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Symmetry
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Symmetric and Asymmetric Structure in Drug Design and Biomolecules
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Symmetric and Asymmetric Structure in Drug Design and Biomolecules

A special issue of Symmetry (ISSN 2073-8994). This special issue belongs to the section "Chemistry: Symmetry/Asymmetry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2022) | Viewed by 9230

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Rohanah Hussain

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
B23 Beamline, Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science Innovation Campus, Chilton, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK
Interests: pharmaceutical chemistry; drug formulation; drug design; chiroptical spectroscopy applications; symmetry; asymmetry; chiral; biomaterials; handedness; enantiomers; superstructures

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Chirality in chemistry refers to the asymmetry or ‘handedness’ of the molecular structures.

Two important aspects of the chirality of a molecule are the absolute configuration and the conformation. For example, alpha amino acids possess L and D configuration that are mirror images pf each other and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease are caused by protein misfolding forming beta strand aggregates in the human brain.

Chiral self-assembled superstructures have attracted the interest of scientists for long time and have seen a number of potential applications in the development of pharmaceuticals, photodetectors and biosensors.

Chirality is an important property of chemical and biological systems, and the chiral nature of organic molecules is central to the origin of life. Enantiomeric molecules often taste and smell different and have different effects; enzymes and drugs distinguish between enantiomers of a chiral substrate in the same manner that a glove only fits well one hand but not the other.

In this Special issue, we will focus on many aspects of symmetric and asymmetric aspects, both in terms of configuration and conformation in drug design and biomaterials, their synthesis, fabrications, productions, analysis, characterizations, applications and implications. Symmetry and asymmetry beyond biomaterials are also welcome.

Dr. Rohanah Hussain
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Symmetry is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • symmetry
  • asymmetry
  • chiral
  • biomaterials
  • handedness
  • enantiomers
  • superstructures

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 2541 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Insulin Mucoadhesive Buccal Films: Spectroscopic Analysis and In Vivo Evaluation
by Maram Diab, Al-Sayed Sallam, Imad Hamdan, Randa Mansour, Rohanah Hussain, Giuliano Siligardi, Nidal Qinna and Enam Khalil
Symmetry 2021, 13(1), 88; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/sym13010088 - 06 Jan 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2909
Abstract
Insulin mucoadhesive buccal films (MBF) are a noninvasive insulin delivery system that offers an advantageous alternative route of administration to subcutaneous injection. One major concern in the formulation of insulin MBF is the preservation of an insulin secondary structure in the presence of [...] Read more.
Insulin mucoadhesive buccal films (MBF) are a noninvasive insulin delivery system that offers an advantageous alternative route of administration to subcutaneous injection. One major concern in the formulation of insulin MBF is the preservation of an insulin secondary structure in the presence of the other film components. Buccal films were formulated using chitosan, glycerin, and L-arginine. The MBF-forming solutions (MBF-FS) and the films (MBF) were examined for their chemical and structural stability and for their in vivo activity. Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) of the insulin-loaded MBF showed that each individualized unit dose was at least loaded with 80% of the insulin theoretical dose. Results of Synchrotron Radiation Circular Dichroism (SRCD) measurements revealed that MBF-FS retained the α-helices and β–sheets conformations of insulin. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)-microspectroscopy (FTIR-MS) examination of insulin MBF revealed the protective action of L-arginine on insulin structure by interacting with chitosan and minimizing the formation of an unordered structure and β-strand. A blood glucose-lowering effect of insulin MBF was observed in comparison with subcutaneous (S.C) injection using a rat model. As a result; chitosan-based MBFs were formulated and characterized using SRCD and FTIR-MS techniques. Furthermore, the results of in vivo testing suggested the MBFs as a promising delivery system for insulin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetric and Asymmetric Structure in Drug Design and Biomolecules)
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22 pages, 3659 KiB  
Article
Chiroptical Properties and Conformation of Four Lasiocepsin-Related Antimicrobial Peptides: Structural Role of Disulfide Bridges
by Markéta Pazderková, Václav Profant, Petr Maloň, Rina K. Dukor, Václav Čeřovský, Vladimír Baumruk and Lucie Bednárová
Symmetry 2020, 12(5), 812; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/sym12050812 - 13 May 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2262
Abstract
We report an investigation of the role of disulfide bridges in the 27-residue antimicrobial peptide lasiocepsin (I) containing two disulfide groups (Cys8–Cys25, Cys17–Cys27) and three its analogs lacking one (II, III [...] Read more.
We report an investigation of the role of disulfide bridges in the 27-residue antimicrobial peptide lasiocepsin (I) containing two disulfide groups (Cys8–Cys25, Cys17–Cys27) and three its analogs lacking one (II, III) or both (IV) native disulfides. Selective alternate incorporation of one or both disulfide bridges influences symmetry, conformation and biological properties of these peptides as demonstrated in their chiroptical (particularly Raman) properties. The effect of modifying the disulfide bridge pattern on the peptide secondary structure is investigated in water and in the presence of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol and sodium dodecyl sulphate. A combination of experimental electronic and vibrational chiroptical data shows that both disulfide groups are necessary for stabilizing lasiocepsin secondary structure. While the Cys8–Cys25 disulfide group is important for sustaining lasiocepsin tertiary structure and maintaining its biological activity, the Cys17–Cys27 disulfide bridge has a supporting function consisting in reducing peptide flexibility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetric and Asymmetric Structure in Drug Design and Biomolecules)
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11 pages, 2109 KiB  
Article
Pyrroloindole-Based Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry
by Tiberiu-Marius Gianga, Dora-Maria Răsădean and G. Dan Pantoș
Symmetry 2020, 12(5), 726; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/sym12050726 - 03 May 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2372
Abstract
We report a new class of building blocks for Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry (DCC) based on the pyrroloindole scaffold. The attachment of l-cysteine on the α, α′ positions of the core makes the molecule suitable for disulfide exchange in aqueous dynamic combinatorial libraries [...] Read more.
We report a new class of building blocks for Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry (DCC) based on the pyrroloindole scaffold. The attachment of l-cysteine on the α, α′ positions of the core makes the molecule suitable for disulfide exchange in aqueous dynamic combinatorial libraries (DCLs). The synthesis of the core follows a modified version of the Knoevenagel–Hemetsberger approach. The new building block (l-PI) is fluorescent (Φ = 48%) and relatively stable towards thermal and photodegradation. The chirality of the cysteine is transferred to the electron-rich pyrroloindole core. Homo- and heterochiral DCLs of l-PI with electron-deficient l- and d-naphthalenediimide (NDI) lead to similar library distributions regardless of the enantiomer used. When no salt is present, the major component is a dimer, while dimers and tetramers are obtained at increased ionic strength. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetric and Asymmetric Structure in Drug Design and Biomolecules)
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Review

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7 pages, 1475 KiB  
Review
Diamond B23 CD Imaging of Thin Films of Chiral Materials or Achiral Polymers Coated with Chiral Molecules
by Rohanah Hussain, Tamás Jávorfi, Charlotte S Hughes, Harini Sriram, Rajamani Lashminarayanan and Giuliano Siligardi
Symmetry 2020, 12(11), 1847; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/sym12111847 - 09 Nov 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1621
Abstract
The novel vertical sample chamber, developed at the B23 beamline for synchrotron radiation circular dichroism (SRCD), has enabled the Diamond User community to conduct different types of experiments from high throughput CD of protein and DNA folding using 96-well multiplates to CD imaging [...] Read more.
The novel vertical sample chamber, developed at the B23 beamline for synchrotron radiation circular dichroism (SRCD), has enabled the Diamond User community to conduct different types of experiments from high throughput CD of protein and DNA folding using 96-well multiplates to CD imaging at high spatial resolution. Here, we present the application of CD imaging to large areas of achiral polymer PVA films doped with D-dopa to assess the chiral homogeneity of the film preparation with potential antimicrobial property. Synopsis: CDi application of Diamond B23 SRCD beamline. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetric and Asymmetric Structure in Drug Design and Biomolecules)
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