molecules-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Advances in Small Molecule Inhibitor-Based Drug Discovery Through Computational Chemistry

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Bioorganic Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 3 November 2025 | Viewed by 18

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Via Mancinelli 7, 20131 Milan, Italy
Interests: drug discovery; medicinal chemistry; computational chemistry; natural inhibitors; antiviral; bio-based polymers

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Via Mancinelli 7, 20131 Milano, Italy
Interests: nanocomposite; elastomer; silicon dioxide; pharmaceutical chemistry; carbon; green chemistry; molecular docking; graphite

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The discovery and development of small molecule inhibitors remains a cornerstone of modern pharmacology, offering targeted therapeutic strategies across a wide range of diseases. In recent years, computational chemistry has emerged as a powerful ally in accelerating and refining this process. This Special Issue aims to highlight recent advances in the design, optimization, and validation of small molecule inhibitors using computational methodologies. Its contributions will explore a range of in silico approaches, including molecular docking, structure-based drug design, ligand-based screening, molecular dynamics simulations, quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) techniques, and machine learning-based models. Emphasis will be placed on integrative strategies that bridge computational predictions with experimental validation, as well as on case studies demonstrating successful translation from virtual hits to biologically active compounds. By gathering cutting-edge research from academia and industry, this Special Issue seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of how computational chemistry is reshaping drug discovery pipelines—enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and enabling the rational design of more selective and potent inhibitors. We invite original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that showcase methodological innovations, novel applications, and interdisciplinary collaborations at the interface of computational science and medicinal chemistry.

Dr. Davide Gentile
Dr. Vincenzina Barbera
Guest Editors

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. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2700 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

  • drug discovery
  • medicinal chemistry
  • molecular modeling
  • natural inhibitors
  • antiviral
  • small inhibitors

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

This special issue is now open for submission.
Back to TopTop