From Discovery to Delivery: Novel Anticancer Molecules and Advanced Targeting Strategies
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Medicinal Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 103
Special Issue Editor
Interests: polymer-based nanomedicine; polymers for tumor-targeted drug delivery; antitumor protein; siRNA delivery; polymers for antitumor therapy; tumor acidic microenvironment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The increasing global burden of cancer and its clinical challenges underscore the urgent need for innovative approaches spanning therapeutic discovery to precision delivery. This Special Issue, titled “From Discovery to Delivery: Novel Anticancer Molecules and Advanced Targeting Strategies,” aims to provide a comprehensive platform for showcasing cutting-edge research in both the identification of novel anticancer agents and the development of targeted delivery systems designed to enhance their therapeutic potential.
We invite original research and review articles that address the full spectrum of anticancer drug development, including but not limited to:
- Discovery and design of novel anticancer molecules, natural products, and synthetic compounds with promising therapeutic activity.
- Synthesis, characterization, and functionalization of advanced drug carriers such as nanoparticles, liposomes, micelles, dendrimers, and biomaterial-based systems.
- Ligand-directed targeting strategies using antibodies, peptides, or other moieties to improve tumor selectivity and cellular uptake.
- Mechanistic studies of drug action and resistance, as well as evaluations of controlled release, biodistribution, and efficacy in preclinical settings.
- Integrative approaches that combine drug discovery with delivery innovation to address pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic challenges.
We welcome contributions discussing translational gaps, regulatory perspectives, and emerging opportunities in the field. Our goal is to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and accelerate the development of more effective, targeted cancer therapies—from molecule to medicine.
Dr. Guo-Bin Ding
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. 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
- anticancer drug discovery
- targeted drug delivery
- nanocarriers
- tumor-targeting ligands
- controlled release
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