Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
7.4
4.2
Journals
Molecules
Special Issues
Research Progress of New Antimicrobial Drugs
molecules-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Molecules Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Research Progress of New Antimicrobial Drugs

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 2146

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Monika Wujec

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, 4A Chodźki Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
Interests: synthesis antimicrobial; organic chemistry; biological activity; medicinal chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Urszula Kosikowska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory for Microbiological Diagnostics, Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
Interests: microbiology; medical microbiology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Despite the large number of antimicrobial drugs available to us, infectious diseases are still a huge problem; this is mainly due to the increasing resistance of microorganisms, the variability of their characteristics, and the ease of acquiring new properties. This fact forces scientists to constantly search for substances with antimicrobial properties that can become drugs. This includes both new compounds with hitherto unknown structures and the modification of known substances, often in use for many years. The potential directions of this search are many; they include the synthesis of analogues of known structures, the synthesis of new derivatives with previously unknown structures, and the derivation of compounds from natural sources, especially plants. Publications of particular interest within our Special Issue include both research and innovative perspectives on various compounds with previously investigated or experimentally demonstrated antimicrobial activity. Of equal importance and interest are publications that aim to determine the molecular mechanisms of action of new compounds with a view to their potential use in the therapy or prevention of infectious diseases; their effects on virulence-related traits and the antibiotic resistance of microorganisms at both the phenotypic and/or molecular level will also be evaluated.

The research results published in our Special Issue will provide scientists working in the broad field of medicinal chemistry with access to sound knowledge and the latest developments in the search for antimicrobial substances. This Special Issue will publish original experimental research and review papers on the discovery and development of new antimicrobial compounds.

Prof. Dr. Monika Wujec
Prof. Dr. Urszula Kosikowska
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

  • synthesis of new antimicrobials
  • bioactive compounds
  • antimicrobial derivatives
  • synthetic and natural compounds
  • pathogens and opportunistic microbes
  • prevention and treatment
  • antibiofilm
  • discovery of antimicrobials

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 (6 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

29 pages, 8995 KiB  
Article
Chiral Salen-Based Organic Salts: Synthesis and Potential Antibacterial Activity
by Marcin Gano, Michał Wójcicki and Ewa Janus
Molecules 2025, 30(10), 2173; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30102173 - 15 May 2025
Viewed by 135
Abstract
New chiral salen-based organic salts were synthesised and evaluated for their antibacterial activity against Serratia fonticola, Escherichia coli, and Enterobacter cloacae. Their structures and physicochemical properties, namely their specific rotation, melting point, thermal stability, and antibacterial efficacy, including minimum inhibitory [...] Read more.
New chiral salen-based organic salts were synthesised and evaluated for their antibacterial activity against Serratia fonticola, Escherichia coli, and Enterobacter cloacae. Their structures and physicochemical properties, namely their specific rotation, melting point, thermal stability, and antibacterial efficacy, including minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), were determined. The synergy between chiral organic salts and bacteriophages was also demonstrated. [(RR)Sal.5C1.PhIM][Cl], [(RR)Sal.5C1.PhIM][BF4], and [(RR)Sal.5C1.Pyr][OTf] had the lowest MIC values (from 500 mg mL−1 for S. fonticola strain KKP 3685 to 2000 mg mL−1 for E. cloacae strain KKP 3692), while the highest MICs (>4000 mg mL−1) were observed for [(RR)Sal.5C1.Pyr][OTf] and [(RR)Sal.5C1.PhIM][NTf2] against E. cloacae strain KKP 3692. The impact of the tested compounds on phage activity was strain-specific. A synergistic effect of [(RR)Sal.5C1.PhIM][BF4] at 0.5 mg mL−1 in microcultures with Escherichia phage KKP 3710 (at MOI of 10 and 100) on the complete inhibition of the growth of E. coli strain KKP 3688 was observed. The combination of [(RR)Sal.5C1.PhIM])][OTf] at 1 mg mL−1 with the addition of phages (at each MOI) and at 0.5 mg mL−1 and MOI = 100 completely inhibited the growth of E. coli strain KKP 3688. Moreover, [(RR)Sal.5C1.PhIM])][OTf] at 1 mg mL−1 and 0.5 mg mL−1, when combined with Enterobacter phage KKP 3716, inhibited the growth of E. cloacae strain KKP 3692 slightly more effectively than the compound alone at the same concentrations. These results suggest that combining our antibacterial agents can reduce chemical compound concentrations, with effects depending on the bacteria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress of New Antimicrobial Drugs)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 16659 KiB  
Article
AMPEC4: Naja ashei Venom-Derived Peptide as a Stimulator of Fibroblast Migration with Antibacterial Activity
by Ewa Ciszkowicz, Anna Miłoś, Andrzej Łyskowski, Justyna Buczkowicz, Anna Nieczaj, Katarzyna Lecka-Szlachta, Konrad K. Hus, Karol Sikora, Damian Neubauer, Marta Bauer, Wojciech Kamysz and Aleksandra Bocian
Molecules 2025, 30(10), 2167; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30102167 - 15 May 2025
Viewed by 309
Abstract
The treatment of proctological conditions, including hemorrhoids, anal fissures, and perianal abscesses, is often complicated by bacterial infections, particularly those involving multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli. This study presents the synthesis, characterization, and biological evaluation of the newly designed synthetic peptide AMPEC4, inspired by [...] Read more.
The treatment of proctological conditions, including hemorrhoids, anal fissures, and perianal abscesses, is often complicated by bacterial infections, particularly those involving multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli. This study presents the synthesis, characterization, and biological evaluation of the newly designed synthetic peptide AMPEC4, inspired by cytotoxin 5 from Naja ashei snake venom. AMPEC4 demonstrated potent antimicrobial properties with MIC values of 100 and 200 µg/mL, effectively inhibiting biofilm formation (up to 84%) and eradicating the pre-formed biofilm by up to 35%. The antibacterial activity of AMPEC4 was further supported by a membrane permeabilization assay, demonstrating its capacity to disrupt bacterial membrane integrity in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, AMPEC4 significantly promoted fibroblast migration, a critical step in tissue regeneration, while exhibiting notable biocompatibility, as evidenced by the absence of hemolytic, cytotoxic, and genotoxic effects. By addressing both infection control and tissue regeneration, AMPEC4 represents a promising therapeutic strategy for managing chronic wounds, particularly in the challenging environment of the anorectal region. Its ability to target Escherichia coli reference and clinical strains while accelerating the wound-healing process underscores its potential for future clinical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress of New Antimicrobial Drugs)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

21 pages, 5249 KiB  
Article
Green Synthesis of Antimicrobial Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) from the Mucus of the Garden Snail Cornu aspersum
by Maria Todorova, Ventsislava Petrova, Bogdan Ranguelov, Georgy Avdeev, Lyudmila Velkova, Stela Atanasova-Vladimirova, Emiliya Pisareva, Chavdar Tankov, Anna Tomova, Aleksandar Dolashki and Pavlina Dolashka
Molecules 2025, 30(10), 2150; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30102150 - 13 May 2025
Viewed by 254
Abstract
The green synthesis of metal nanoparticles, mediated by extracts from various biological sources, leads to the formation of nanoparticles with unique characteristics and potential biomedical applications. In this study, a fraction of the mucus from the snail Cornu aspersum with MW > 20 [...] Read more.
The green synthesis of metal nanoparticles, mediated by extracts from various biological sources, leads to the formation of nanoparticles with unique characteristics and potential biomedical applications. In this study, a fraction of the mucus from the snail Cornu aspersum with MW > 20 kDa was used as a bioreducing and biostabilizing agent to obtain silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in different pH media (pH 1.5, 3.5, and 7.0). The AgNPs were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, XRD, and FTIR. The synthesis at pH 1.5 and pH 3.5 in the presence of two reducing agents (i.e., the C. aspersum mucus fraction with MW > 20 kDa and ascorbic acid [AsA]) resulted in the formation of well-formed spherical nanoparticles (NPs) with larger sizes (20–80 nm) than the NPs obtained at pH 7.0 (20–60 nm) in the presence of only one reducing agent. Furthermore, the biosynthesized AgNPs significantly inhibited the growth of medically significant pathogens such as Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis NBIMCC2353, Bacillus spizizenii ATCC 6633, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, and Listeria innocua NBIMCC8755) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli ATCC8739, Salmonella enteitidis NBIMCC8691, Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 14028, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia ATCC 17666) bacteria compared to output mucus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress of New Antimicrobial Drugs)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

30 pages, 7649 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Cytotoxicity and Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extracts from Malus domestica, Prunus armeniaca, and Prunus cerasus Leaves
by Martyna Zagórska-Dziok, Aleksandra Ziemlewska, Magdalena Wójciak, Ireneusz Sowa, Ewa Wąsik-Szczepanek and Zofia Nizioł-Łukaszewska
Molecules 2025, 30(10), 2085; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30102085 - 8 May 2025
Viewed by 385
Abstract
This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of the biological properties of aqueous and aqueous–ethanolic leaf extracts from Malus domestica, Prunus armeniaca, and Prunus cerasus, which are plant waste materials. Phytochemical profiles were analyzed using HPLC, and antioxidant potential was assessed [...] Read more.
This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of the biological properties of aqueous and aqueous–ethanolic leaf extracts from Malus domestica, Prunus armeniaca, and Prunus cerasus, which are plant waste materials. Phytochemical profiles were analyzed using HPLC, and antioxidant potential was assessed via DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity assays. Extracts showed concentration-, plant-, and extract type-dependent radical scavenging effects exceeding 80%, significant Fe3+ ion reduction, and up to 40% enhancement of SOD activity. In vitro studies on HDF and HaCaT cells revealed reduced intracellular ROS levels, indicating antioxidant potential. Cytotoxicity assays (Alamar Blue, Neutral Red) demonstrated increased skin cell viability by up to 35% at ≤50 or 125 µg/mL, while higher doses reduced viability by up to 70%, depending on the extract. Antibacterial activity varied among plant species and was effective against seven bacterial strains. ELISA assays showed anti-inflammatory effects, with IL-1β and IL-6 levels reduced by 48% and 40%, respectively, and IL-10 increased by up to 27%. These findings suggest that the tested leaf extracts support both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense mechanisms and may be valuable as functional ingredients in dermatological or cosmetic applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress of New Antimicrobial Drugs)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 4906 KiB  
Article
Phytotoxicity, Cytotoxicity, and Antimicrobial Activity of Triethanolammonium Amino Acids Salts
by Barbara Hanna Roman, Magdalena Charęza, Radosław Drozd, Martyna Sokołowska, Peter Sobolewski and Ewa Janus
Molecules 2025, 30(8), 1712; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30081712 - 11 Apr 2025
Viewed by 308
Abstract
The growing use of ionic liquids (ILs) necessitates an understanding of their environmental impact and toxicity levels. In this study, a series of amino acid-based ionic liquids containing the triethanolammonium (TEA) cation were evaluated for their biological activity against Lepidium sativum L., the [...] Read more.
The growing use of ionic liquids (ILs) necessitates an understanding of their environmental impact and toxicity levels. In this study, a series of amino acid-based ionic liquids containing the triethanolammonium (TEA) cation were evaluated for their biological activity against Lepidium sativum L., the mouse fibroblast cell line L929, a selection of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, and the yeast Candida albicans. The influence of amino acid anion structure on toxicity was also examined. Among the tested ionic liquids, [TEA][Asp] exhibited low toxicity toward Lepidium sativum L., representing terrestrial plants, while [TEA][Phe] showed the lowest cytotoxicity. Regarding microbial activity, [TEA][Lys] demonstrated greater bactericidal effectiveness against E. coli than S. aureus, while both [TEA][Lys] and [TEA][Arg] exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect against C. albicans. Our findings underscore the crucial role of IL salt composition in determining biological activity, highlighting the significance of interactions between IL components in shaping their potential effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress of New Antimicrobial Drugs)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

16 pages, 3451 KiB  
Article
Mechanochemically-Activated Solid-State Synthesis of Borate-Substituted Tricalcium Phosphate: Evaluation of Biocompatibility and Antimicrobial Performance
by Daniil O. Golubchikov, Inna V. Fadeeva, Alexander V. Knot’ko, Iliya A. Kostykov, Tatiana K. Slonskaya, Katia Barbaro, Alessia Zepparoni, Marco Fosca, Iulian V. Antoniac and Julietta V. Rau
Molecules 2025, 30(7), 1575; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30071575 - 31 Mar 2025
Viewed by 319
Abstract
Current research in bone tissue engineering is focused not only on basic parameters of the materials, such as biocompatibility and degradation rate but also on intrinsic osteogenic and antimicrobial properties, essential to provide a rapid tissue regeneration without negative effects due to periprosthetic [...] Read more.
Current research in bone tissue engineering is focused not only on basic parameters of the materials, such as biocompatibility and degradation rate but also on intrinsic osteogenic and antimicrobial properties, essential to provide a rapid tissue regeneration without negative effects due to periprosthetic infections, that may result in revision surgeries. One of the major strategies to enhance the osteogenic and antimicrobial performance of calcium phosphates is the ionic substitution, in particular, with magnesium and borates. In this study, we focused on the synthesis of boron-substituted tricalcium phosphate (B-TCP) with a target of 5 mol.% substitution via the solid-state synthesis with mechano-activation. Synthesis from raw precursors, without the preliminary brushite wet precipitation, led to the primary phase of β-TCP, which was proved by the XRD analysis. According to the IR-spectroscopy and 31P NMR analysis, boron substitution occurred in the synthesized sample. The developed material showed a modest antibacterial performance against E. coli, with 13.5 ± 5.0% growth inhibition, and E. faecalis, with 16.7 ± 5.5% inhibition. The biocompatibility of β-TCP and B-TCP was tested through the MTT assay and osteogenic differentiation of the mesenchymal stromal cells. The proposed synthesis approach can be useful for the fabrication of B-TCP ceramics for bone tissue engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress of New Antimicrobial Drugs)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-6
Back to TopTop