Peptides and Small Molecules as Anti-Cancer Agents
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Medicinal Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2020) | Viewed by 35382
Special Issue Editors
Interests: oncology; molecular biology; virology; biochemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: bioactive peptides; peptide drug development; peptide drug conjugate; anticancer peptides; peptides in diagnosis and therapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, with an estimated 9.6 million deaths in 2018. Novel cancer drugs that selectively suppress cancer cells and limit their chemoresistance as well as the relapse after treatment and the establishment of secondary malignancies are urgently needed. Cancer cells are characterized by the increased expression of normal and/or defective signaling molecules and receptors targeted by specific antagonistic proteins or peptides. Thus, synthetic peptides and peptide-based small molecules represent an attractive class of molecules for the design of new drugs, lead compounds, drug carriers, and excipients.
Recent developments in peptide chemistry and high-throughput screening platforms have generated enthusiasm and interest in the design and discovery of novel moieties for a broad range of biological and pharmacological applications. Advances in peptides and small-molecule engineering have helped to overcome several limitations, such as poor systemic stability, rapid clearance, and low binding affinities to biological targets.
Nanotechnologies providing enzymatic protection and controlled release of peptides or small molecules, made of minimum active peptides, represent optimal strategies for the targeted delivery of bioactive drugs to specific tissues. Moreover, the conjugation of peptides to nanovector surfaces carrying conventional chemotherapeutic agents can be useful for the selective delivery and killing of tumor cells. Peptide-based drugs will therefore have a significant impact in the near future for the treatment of many types of tumor.
We welcome the submission of research and review articles on the advances and opportunities of peptide-based drugs and peptide delivery systems in oncology to bring together expert opinions and new advances from across the field in this Special Issue of Molecules.
Dr. Franco M. Buonaguro
Dr. Anna Lucia Tornesello
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- peptides
- theranostics
- small molecules
- peptide drugs
- lead compounds
- peptidomimetics
- synthetic anticancer peptides
- cell-penetrating peptides
- radiolabeled peptides
- oncology
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Related Special Issue
- Peptides and Small Molecules as Anti-Cancer Agents II in Molecules (1 article)