Antioxidant Drug Candidates: Mechanistic and Computational Insights into Free Radical Scavenging and Redox Modulation

A special issue of Drugs and Drug Candidates (ISSN 2813-2998).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2026 | Viewed by 2256

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Science, Institute for Information Technologies Kragujevac, University of Kragujevac, Jovana Cvijića bb, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
Interests: antioxidant activity; antimicrobial activity; metal complexes; molecular docking; DFT calculations; enzyme inhibition; drug design
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Oxidative stress is a well-established contributor to the onset and progression of numerous diseases, including neurodegenerative, oncological, cardiovascular, and inflammatory disorders. Therefore, the discovery and development of novel antioxidant compounds with drug-like properties is a key priority in medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical research.

We are pleased to invite you to submit your work to the Special Issue “Antioxidant Drug Candidates: Mechanistic and Computational Insights into Free Radical Scavenging and Redox Modulation” in the journal Drugs and Drug Candidates. This Special Issue focuses on chemically defined structures—either natural, semi-synthetic, or fully synthetic—with a demonstrated or predicted antioxidant activity, evaluated as potential therapeutic agents.

We especially welcome studies that relate to the following areas:

  • Synthesis and structural characterization of new antioxidant compounds;
  • Chemical modification of natural products to improve stability, bioavailability, and selectivity;
  • Structure-based design and optimization of antioxidant drug candidates;
  • In silico screening and quantum chemical prediction of antioxidant potential;
  • Evaluation of free radical scavenging and metal-chelating properties;
  • Dual-action compounds with antioxidant and therapeutic effects (e.g., anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anticancer).

Note: Submissions must focus on defined compounds with clear chemical profiles. Manuscripts that primarily discuss physiological effects without compound-level data or mechanistic rationale will not be considered.

We welcome original research articles, reviews.

We look forward to receiving your high-quality contributions.

Dr. Žiko B. Milanović
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Drugs and Drug Candidates is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1000 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

  • antioxidants
  • oxidative stress
  • natural products
  • structure–activity relationship
  • redox mechanisms

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.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

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

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

27 pages, 5443 KB  
Article
Structural Insights into the Redox Potential of Curcumin Derivatives in Litopenaeus vannamei
by Damião Sampaio de Sousa, João Miguel Lopes de Melo Lima, Carminda Sandra Brito Salmito-Vanderley and Emmanuel Silva Marinho
Drugs Drug Candidates 2026, 5(2), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/ddc5020024 - 7 Apr 2026
Viewed by 250
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Curcumin derivatives have attracted interest due to their redox-modulating properties and potential applications in aquatic organisms, yet their molecular interactions and environmental safety remain insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to evaluate the redox-related molecular behavior and ecotoxicological profile of curcumin derivatives, [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Curcumin derivatives have attracted interest due to their redox-modulating properties and potential applications in aquatic organisms, yet their molecular interactions and environmental safety remain insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to evaluate the redox-related molecular behavior and ecotoxicological profile of curcumin derivatives, with emphasis on their interaction with glutathione S-transferase from L. vannamei. Methods: Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were performed to assess binding stability and interaction patterns between the derivatives and LvGSTmu. In parallel, computational predictions were used to estimate environmental persistence, bioaccumulation (BCF/BAF), and acute and chronic aquatic toxicity across multiple trophic levels. Results: Docking and dynamics analyses indicated stable ligand–protein interactions, particularly for CURNO, which showed favorable binding behavior without destabilizing the protein structure. Ecotoxicological predictions suggested low bioaccumulation potential and limited persistence for most derivatives, with CURH and CURNO showing higher sediment persistence. Toxicity responses varied by organism and exposure time but did not differ significantly among derivatives relative to curcumin. Conclusions: The derivatives retained redox-related molecular features while presenting an overall acceptable predicted environmental profile. CURNO emerged as a promising candidate, although its environmental behavior supports the need for further monitoring and experimental validation. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

31 pages, 1695 KB  
Review
Rational Design of Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidants: From Molecular Determinants to Clinical Perspectives
by Beata Franczyk, Kinga Bojdo, Jakub Chłądzyński, Katarzyna Hossa, Katarzyna Krawiranda, Natalia Krupińska, Natalia Kustosik, Klaudia Leszto, Wiktoria Lisińska, Anna Wieczorek, Jacek Rysz and Ewelina Młynarska
Drugs Drug Candidates 2026, 5(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/ddc5010009 - 20 Jan 2026
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1034
Abstract
Oxidative stress, caused by an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and endogenous antioxidant capacity, is a key etiological factor in numerous pathologies, including neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. The limited clinical efficacy of conventional antioxidants is primarily due to their insufficient [...] Read more.
Oxidative stress, caused by an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and endogenous antioxidant capacity, is a key etiological factor in numerous pathologies, including neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. The limited clinical efficacy of conventional antioxidants is primarily due to their insufficient accumulation within the mitochondria, the main site of intracellular ROS generation. This article reviews the design and application of Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidants, which represent a major advance in precision medicine. The design of these compounds involves linking an antioxidant “payload” to a lipophilic cation, such as the triphenylphosphonium group. This positive charge leverages the negative electrochemical gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane to drive the antioxidant into the organelle. This mechanism allows the drug to reach concentrations over 100 times higher than non-targeted alternatives. The discussion encompasses the structure-activity analysis of the carrier, the payload (e.g., quinone derivatives), and the linker, which determine optimal subcellular partitioning and scavenging efficiency. Preclinical data highlight the therapeutic potential of this approach, showing strong neuroprotection in models of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, as well as improved outcomes in cardiovascular and ocular health. By restoring redox balance specifically within the mitochondria, these targeted therapies offer a more effective way to treat chronic oxidative damage. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop