Emerging Topics in Metal Complexes: Pharmacological Activity
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pharmacology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 November 2023) | Viewed by 17885
Special Issue Editors
Interests: elements; metal interactions; mechanisms of metal toxicity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
2. Sport and Health Research Centre, University of Granada, 18016 Armilla, Spain
Interests: mineral metabolism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: metals in biology; polyoxometalates in biomedical sciences; interactions of POMs with proteins; bioinorganic chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Due to their pharmacological potential, metal complexes and compounds have been arousing the interest of many research centers worldwide. The structure and properties of many metal coordination compounds make them therapeutically effective. They are used not only in the treatment of some modern-age diseases but also in clinical diagnostics. Currently, metal complexes and compounds (such as polyoxometalates) are prominent players in medicine and medicinal chemistry.
The results of certain studies have demonstrated that gold (Au), silver (Ag), platinum (Pt), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and ruthenium (Ru) coordination compounds exhibit anti-tumor, anti-microbial, and immunosuppressive activity. Some of them, i.e., Cu and Zn complexes, have also been studied in the context of neurodegenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease, which is a constantly growing social concern. Numerous studies have also revealed the potential therapeutic benefits of vanadium (V) complexes and compounds, which are at the forefront among the different metals examined for their potential therapeutic use. Its multidirectional biological properties (i.e., antiviral, antibacterial, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, anti-allergic, anti-oxidative, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-ulcer, and anti-obesity activity), as well as its neuroprotective, nephroprotective, and cardioprotective effects, provide a basis for studies of the unique class of pharmacological agents containing this metal.
Despite the progress in the knowledge of the pharmacological activity of certain metals and their complexes, further studies are still needed, as the mechanisms of action of the potential drugs containing metal ions are not sufficiently recognized yet. Moreover, the side effects of the use of metal coordination compounds in the treatment of some diseases (mainly cancer) and resistance to treatment are a serious problem in modern medicine. Therefore, there is a constant search for new therapeutics based on metal complexes that would ensure better treatment results and contribute to a significant slowdown in the progression of the disease. The therapeutic targets, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetics of metal-containing compounds have to be clarified in detail with reference to metal-based drugs, which may guarantee potential clinical success.
We invite authors to submit original research papers or review articles on the pharmacological activity of metal coordination compounds with a focus on strategies improving their pharmacological features and on links between metal-containing complexes and potential therapies of human pathologies with mechanistic analysis.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
- Current strategies for the synthesis of metal complexes and/or compounds with biological properties;
- Methods of improvement of existing metal-based drugs in order to enhance their therapeutic potential;
- Biological and pharmacological effects of new metal-containing complexes and/or compounds (in vitro/in vivo studies);
- Metal coordination compounds in modern cancer therapy and in new strategies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases;
- Metal ligands in the biological activity of complexes;
- Mechanisms of action of metal-containing compounds;
- Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of metal complexes;
- Metal coordination compounds in laboratory diagnostics and clinical trials.
Dr. Agnieszka Ścibior
Prof. Dr. Juan Llopis
Prof. Dr. Manuel Aureliano
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- metal complexes
- polyoxometalates
- biological activity
- pharmacokinetic parameters
- mechanistic analysis
- cancer/neurodegenerative diseases
- innovative strategies
- laboratory diagnostics
- clinical studies
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