Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.2
3.9
Journals
Biomedicines
Special Issues
State-of-the-Art Drug Discovery and Development in Poland (2nd Edition)
share announcement

State-of-the-Art Drug Discovery and Development in Poland (2nd Edition)

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Drug Discovery, Development and Delivery".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 7764

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Aleksandra Romaniuk-Drapała

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Collegium Pharmaceuticum, 3 Rokietnicka Str., 60-806 Poznan, Poland
Interests: combination chemotherapy; drug delivery; targeted therapy; cancer biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the last few decades, we have observed a significant shift in drug design and development methods. Two distinct technological trends are involved in this change. One represents advances made in exploring areas such as genomic sequencing, protein science, and structural biology. New technologies provide vast numbers of data, uncover a wide range of potential drug targets, and facilitate more accurate target identification and validation. The second trend involves the empowerment of computational scientists to utilize these massive databases thanks to the significant number of tools and software packages available for analyzing and interpreting biological complexity. Technological advances in various areas of omics have allowed the exploration of different approaches to improve the success of drug design and development.

All authors who are actively involved in drug discovery and development in Poland are invited to contribute to this Special Issue. Original research articles and reviews on the hottest topics related to identifying and introducing new medicines and cutting-edge methodological advances are welcome.

Possible research topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • In silico drug target profiling;
  • Drug delivery systems;
  • Drug–drug interactions;
  • Target-based screening;
  • Phenotypic screening;
  • Pharmaceutical modeling;
  • Computational chemistry;
  • Targeted therapy;
  • Biomarkers;
  • Bioimaging.

Dr. Aleksandra Romaniuk-Drapała
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. Biomedicines 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 2600 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

  • in silico drug target profiling
  • drug delivery systems
  • drug–drug interactions
  • target-based screening
  • phenotypic screening
  • pharmaceutical modeling
  • computational chemistry
  • targeted therapy
  • biomarkers
  • bioimaging

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

31 pages, 7001 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Synthetic Polymers on the Release Patterns of Bupivacaine Hydrochloride from Sodium Hyaluronate Hydrogels
by Dorota Wójcik-Pastuszka, Roksana Iwaszkiewicz and Witold Musiał
Biomedicines 2025, 13(1), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13010039 - 27 Dec 2024
Viewed by 636
Abstract
Background: Using hydrogels for the controlled release of drugs is beneficial for patients, who then receive the proper dose of the medicinal substance. In addition, the formulation can provide more consistent drug absorption while reducing the frequency of dosing. Objectives: The aim of [...] Read more.
Background: Using hydrogels for the controlled release of drugs is beneficial for patients, who then receive the proper dose of the medicinal substance. In addition, the formulation can provide more consistent drug absorption while reducing the frequency of dosing. Objectives: The aim of this investigation is to propose a novel HA (sodium hyaluronate)-based hydrogel for intra-articular injection doped with synthetic polymers and incorporated with bupivacaine hydrochloride (Bu) as a local anesthetic. The other aim of this study is to reveal the effects of the formulation’s ingredients on its viscosity and the relationship between the hydrogel’s viscosity and drug release. Methods: First, HA-based hydrogels doped with synthetic polymers and incorporated with Bu were prepared. A study of the hydrogels’ viscosities was performed using a rotational viscometer. Release tests were carried out by employing a paddle-over-disk apparatus following the USP/Ph.Eur guidelines. The drug concentrations in the acceptor fluid were analyzed spectrophotometrically. Results: It was found that the viscosity of the hydrogels doped with synthetic polymers was higher than the viscosity of the hydrogels made with only HA. The viscosity of the hydrogels doped with AX (ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP copolymer) was the highest, measuring 6750 ± 160 cP and 12623 ± 379 cP with and without Bu, respectively. The results of the kinetic experiment indicate that the Higuchi and Korsmeyer–Peppas models best described the drug release. Bu was released the most slowly from the formulation doped with AX. The release rate constants obtained from the Higuchi and Korsmeyer–Peppas models were kH = 4.4 ± 0.2 mg × min−1/2 and kK-P = 3.4 ± 0.2 × 10−2 min–N, respectively. The half-release time, calculated using the Higuchi model, was the longest for the formulation doped with AX, at 199.5 ± 17.6 min. Conclusions: This indicates that the incorporation of AX into the hydrogel may prolong the drug dissolution. The hydrogel doped with AX was the optimal formulation for the controlled release of Bu. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Drug Discovery and Development in Poland (2nd Edition))
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 4535 KiB  
Article
Tocilizumab in COVID-19: A Double-Edged Sword?
by Bartosz Kudliński, Jacek Zawadzki, Wiktoria Kulińska, Jagoda Kania, Magdalena Murkos, Marta Stolińska, Dominika Zgoła, Anna Noga and Paweł Nowak
Biomedicines 2024, 12(12), 2924; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12122924 - 23 Dec 2024
Viewed by 762
Abstract
Background/Objectives: SARS-CoV-2 was responsible for the global pandemic. Approximately 10–15% of patients with COVID-19 developed respiratory failure with adult acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which required treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The cytokine storm observed in severe COVID-19 was frequently handled [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: SARS-CoV-2 was responsible for the global pandemic. Approximately 10–15% of patients with COVID-19 developed respiratory failure with adult acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which required treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The cytokine storm observed in severe COVID-19 was frequently handled with steroids. Synergically, tocilizumab, an anti-interleukin-6 receptor monoclonal antibody, gained popularity as a cytokine storm-suppressing agent. However, immunosuppression was proven to increase the predisposition to infections with resistant bacteria. Our study aimed to assess the relationship between positive tests for secondary infections and the survival of patients with severe COVID-19-attributed ARDS treated with immunosuppressive agents. Methods: This study included 342 patients qualified for the ICU and mechanical ventilation (MV). The patients were divided based on the type of immunomodulating therapy and the culture tests results. Results: The results showed the highest survival rate among patients <61 years, favoring the combined treatment (tocilizumab + steroids). Atrial fibrillation (AF) and coronary heart disease (CHD) correlated with a lower survival rate than other comorbidities. Tocilizumab was associated with an increased risk of positive pathogen cultures, which could potentially cause secondary infections; however, the survival rate among these patients was higher. Conclusions: MV and ICU procedures as well as the application of tocilizumab significantly decreased the mortality rate in patients with severe COVID-19-related ARDS. The suppression of cytokine storms played a crucial role in survival. Tocilizumab was found to be both efficient and safe despite the ‘side effect’ of the increased risk of positive results for secondary infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Drug Discovery and Development in Poland (2nd Edition))
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 5425 KiB  
Article
Asoprisnil as a Novel Ligand Interacting with Stress-Associated Glucocorticoid Receptor
by Ovinuchi Ejiohuo, Donald Bajia, Joanna Pawlak and Aleksandra Szczepankiewicz
Biomedicines 2024, 12(12), 2745; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12122745 - 30 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 987
Abstract
Background/objective: The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is critical in regulating cortisol production during stress. This makes it a key target for treating conditions associated with hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation, such as mental disorders. This study explores novel ligands beyond mifepristone for their potential to [...] Read more.
Background/objective: The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is critical in regulating cortisol production during stress. This makes it a key target for treating conditions associated with hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation, such as mental disorders. This study explores novel ligands beyond mifepristone for their potential to modulate GR with improved efficacy and safety. By investigating these interactions, we seek to identify new pharmacotherapeutic options for stress-related mental illness. Methods: The ligands asoprisnil, campestanol, and stellasterol were selected based on structural similarities to mifepristone (reference ligand) and evaluated for pharmacological and ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) properties using the SwissADME database. Molecular docking with AutoDock 4.2.6 and molecular dynamics simulations were performed to investigate ligand–protein interactions with the human glucocorticoid receptor, and binding free energies were calculated using MMPBSA. Results: Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed that asoprisnil exhibited high gastrointestinal absorption and obeyed Lipinski’s rule, while mifepristone crossed the blood–brain barrier. Toxicological predictions showed that mifepristone was active for neurotoxicity and immunotoxicity, while asoprisnil, campestanol, and stellasterol displayed lower toxicity profiles. Asoprisnil demonstrated the highest stability in molecular dynamics simulations, with the highest negative binding energy of −62.35 kcal/mol, when compared to mifepristone, campestanol, and stellasterol, with binding energies of −57.08 kcal/mol, −49.99 kcal/mol, and −46.69 kcal/mol, respectively. Conclusion: This makes asoprisnil a potentially favourable therapeutic candidate compared to mifepristone. However, further validation of asoprisnil’s interaction, efficacy, and safety in stress-related mental disorders through experimental studies and clinical trials is needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Drug Discovery and Development in Poland (2nd Edition))
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

22 pages, 839 KiB  
Article
Evaluating the Efficacy of Pre-Emptive Peribulbar Blocks with Different Local Anesthetics or Paracetamol Using the Adequacy of Anesthesia Guidance for Vitreoretinal Surgeries: A Preliminary Report
by Michał Jan Stasiowski, Anita Lyssek-Boroń, Katarzyna Krysik, Dominika Majer, Nikola Zmarzły and Beniamin Oskar Grabarek
Biomedicines 2024, 12(10), 2303; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12102303 - 10 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1032
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Precisely selected patients require vitreoretinal surgeries (VRS) performed under general anesthesia (GA) when intravenous rescue opioid analgesics (IROA) are administered intraoperatively, despite a risk of adverse events, to achieve hemodynamic stability and proper antinociception and avoid the possibility of intolerable postoperative pain [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Precisely selected patients require vitreoretinal surgeries (VRS) performed under general anesthesia (GA) when intravenous rescue opioid analgesics (IROA) are administered intraoperatively, despite a risk of adverse events, to achieve hemodynamic stability and proper antinociception and avoid the possibility of intolerable postoperative pain perception (IPPP). Adequacy of anesthesia guidance (AoA) optimizes the titration of IROA. Preventive analgesia (PA) techniques and intravenous or preoperative peribulbar block (PBB) using different local anesthetics (LAs) are performed prior to GA to optimize IROA. The aim was to analyze the utility of PBBs compared with intravenous paracetamol added to AoA-guided GA on the incidence of IPPP and hemodynamic stability in patients undergoing VRS. Methods: A total of 185 patients undergoing vitreoretinal surgery (VRS) were randomly assigned to one of several anesthesia protocols: general anesthesia (GA) with analgesia optimized through AoA-guided intraoperative remifentanil opioid analgesia (IROA) combined with a preemptive single dose of 1 g of paracetamol (P group), or PBB using one of the following options: 7 mL of an equal mixture of 2% lidocaine and 0.5% bupivacaine (BL group), 7 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine (BPV group), or 7 mL of 0.75% ropivacaine (RPV group). According to the PA used, the primary outcome measure was postoperative pain perception assessed using the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), whereas the secondary outcome measures were as follows: demand for IROA and values of hemodynamic parameters reflecting quality or analgesia and hemodynamic stability. Results: A total of 175 patients were finally analyzed. No studied PA technique proved superior in terms of rate of incidence of IPPP, when IROA under AoA was administered (p = 0.22). PBB using ropivacaine resulted in an intraoperative reduction in the number of patients requiring IROA (p = 0.002; p < 0.05) with no influence on the dose of IROA (p = 0.97), compared to paracetamol, and little influence on hemodynamic stability of no clinical relevance in patients undergoing VRS under AoA-guided GA. Conclusions: PA using paracetamol or PBBs, regardless of LAs used, in patients undergoing VRS proved no advantage in terms of rate of incidence of IPPP and hemodynamic stability when AoA guidance for IROA administration during GA was utilized. Therefore, PA using them seems no longer justified due to the potential, although rare, side effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Drug Discovery and Development in Poland (2nd Edition))
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

18 pages, 248 KiB  
Review
The Role of Vitamin D in Rare Diseases—A Clinical Review
by Czesław Ducki, Marta Wojtkiewicz, Marcin Bartoszewicz and Piotr Fiedor
Biomedicines 2025, 13(3), 558; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13030558 - 22 Feb 2025
Viewed by 353
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Patients suffering from rare diseases are particularly vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency. The role of vitamin D status in rare disease management remains insufficiently investigated and employed in routine clinical practice. Methods: This review analyses current data on vitamin D status in [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Patients suffering from rare diseases are particularly vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency. The role of vitamin D status in rare disease management remains insufficiently investigated and employed in routine clinical practice. Methods: This review analyses current data on vitamin D status in selected rare diseases of organs involved in vitamin D metabolism: skin (epidermolysis bullosa, morphea), liver (autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis), kidney (Alport syndrome, Fabry disease), and cystic fibrosis as a model of a systemic rare disease. Additionally, this review critically examines potential drug–vitamin D interactions in the context of rare disease patient polypharmacy. Results: Evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in rare disease patient populations, often at once exacerbating and being simultaneously exacerbated by the underlying condition. Vitamin D deficiency correlates with worse clinical outcomes and lower quality of life across the examined diseases. Immunoregulatory properties of vitamin D appear relevant for rare diseases with autoimmune components. Conclusions: An urgent need for developing disease-specific clinical practice guidelines, implementing routine vitamin D monitoring in rare disease patient care, and introducing tailored supplementation under the principles of precision medicine is emphasized. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Drug Discovery and Development in Poland (2nd Edition))
12 pages, 279 KiB  
Review
The Use of Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Inhibitors in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Treatment—Literature Review
by Anita Gorzelak-Magiera, Małgorzata Domagała-Haduch, Jacek Kabut and Iwona Gisterek-Grocholska
Biomedicines 2024, 12(10), 2308; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12102308 - 11 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1372
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. The median survival time for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer before the era of molecular-based personalized treatment was 7.9 months. The discovery of predictive factors and the introduction of molecular diagnostics [...] Read more.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. The median survival time for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer before the era of molecular-based personalized treatment was 7.9 months. The discovery of predictive factors and the introduction of molecular diagnostics into daily practice made a breakthrough, enabling several years of survival in patients with advanced disease. The discovery of rearrangements in the ALK gene and ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors has resulted in a dramatic improvement in the prognosis of patients with this subtype of cancer. Currently, three generations of ALK inhibitors differing in activity, toxicity and degree of penetration into the central nervous system are available in clinical practice. The current state of knowledge on ALK inhibitors used in clinical practice is summarised in this research paper. Methods of diagnosis of abnormalities in ALK have been shown, and the review of research that contributed to the development of the next generation of ALK inhibitors has been presented. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Drug Discovery and Development in Poland (2nd Edition))
18 pages, 1339 KiB  
Review
Epinephrine, Pregabalin, and Crizotinib as Three Medicines with Polish Implications over Three Last Centuries and in View of Three Different Drug Discovery Approaches
by Piotr Kawczak, Igor Feszak and Tomasz Bączek
Biomedicines 2024, 12(9), 2021; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12092021 - 4 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1652
Abstract
The discovery of epinephrine (adrenaline) and its subsequent implications in medicine owes significant contributions to Cybulski across different centuries, who, in 1894, was pivotal in identifying the adrenal medulla’s role in blood pressure regulation and naming the active substance “nadnerczyna”, known [...] Read more.
The discovery of epinephrine (adrenaline) and its subsequent implications in medicine owes significant contributions to Cybulski across different centuries, who, in 1894, was pivotal in identifying the adrenal medulla’s role in blood pressure regulation and naming the active substance “nadnerczyna”, known today as adrenaline. His work demonstrated the adrenal glands’ critical function in the body’s regulatory mechanisms beyond the nervous system. Cybulski’s groundbreaking research laid foundational knowledge for future endocrinological studies and pharmaceutical advancements. In the late 20th century, Andruszkiewicz collaborated with Silverman at Northwestern University to develop pregabalin, the active ingredient in Lyrica. Their innovative synthesis of gamma-aminobutyric acid derivatives led to a significant advancement in treating epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and fibromyalgia. Andruszkiewicz’s expertise in organic chemistry and enzymology was crucial in this collaborative effort, resulting in the successful development and commercialization of Lyrica. Additionally, Mroczkowski’s leadership at Pfizer contributed to the development of crizotinib, a notable anaplastic lymphoma kinase and proto-oncogene 1 tyrosine-protein kinase inhibitor used to treat specific types of non-small cell lung cancer. Her work exemplifies the continuing influence of Polish researchers in pioneering drug discovery and advancing therapeutic treatments over the past three centuries. These contributions highlight Poland’s significant role in global pharmaceutical innovations and medical research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Drug Discovery and Development in Poland (2nd Edition))
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-7
Back to TopTop