Small Molecules: From Design, Synthesis and Characterization to Pharmacological Functional Analysis

Dear Colleagues,

The process of drug discovery is facing a complex, albeit stimulating, time in history. The advent of biotech drugs has introduced a huge boost in the treatment of several disorders, including infectious and cancer diseases. The PROTAC technology and the use of antibody–drug conjugates (ADC) are contributing to expanding multi-target strategy and drug delivery in precision medicine. Many other innovative approaches are ongoing, with the aim of identifying new drug targets and improving their pharmacological characterization.

 At the same time, there is still a great interest in the identification of novel, bioactive, small molecules with enhanced activity and selectivity towards their target, along with improved safety and pharmaco-kinetic/dynamic properties. The recent literature is filled with successful examples dealing with the discovery of biologically active small molecules, either from a rational drug design or inspired by nature.

This Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences aims to collect original research articles, reviews, and short communications dedicated to finding new small molecules as diagnostic agents or novel putative drugs. Improved drug design strategies, advanced synthetic techniques, and innovative pharmacological applications for the newly developed compounds are amongst the suitable topics of this Special Issue. Moreover, green and sustainable synthetic methodologies leading to final bioactive compounds are more than welcome.

Dr. Samuele Maramai
Guest Editor

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