Ahmed A Ibrahim, Eman G Said, Asmaa M AboulMagd, Noha H Amin, Hamdy M Abdel-Rahman
{"title":"Novel benzimidazole hybrids: design, synthesis, mechanistic studies, antifungal potential and molecular dynamics.","authors":"Ahmed A Ibrahim, Eman G Said, Asmaa M AboulMagd, Noha H Amin, Hamdy M Abdel-Rahman","doi":"10.1039/d5md00122f","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5md00122f","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this study, two series of benzimidazole hybrids were developed and designed using different strategies. The target compounds were designed through straight chemistry pathways and were screened as possible antimicrobial agents. Twenty new compounds were synthesized, among which compounds 11 and 12 displayed excellent activity against <i>Candida albicans</i> and <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> with growth inhibition percentage ranging from 86.42% to 100%. For gaining better insights into the mechanistic ability of the active candidates 11 and 12, their inhibitory activity against lanosterol 14α-demethylase was studied. Results showed IC<sub>50</sub> values of 5.6 and 7.1 μM for 11 and 12, respectively, which were comparable to the reference value of fluconazole (2.3 μM), indicating low drug interaction possibilities. Notably, compound 11 displayed excellent inhibition of biofilm metabolic activity. In addition, their synergistic activity against <i>C. neoformans</i> displayed a 2-fold increase compared with fluconazole. Furthermore, it exhibited sustained antifungal activity with time clearance of over 24 h, which was better than the time clearance of fluconazole (6 h). Moreover, compounds 11 and 12 displayed considerable safety profiles, with no cytotoxicity reported against human embryonic kidney cells or hemolysis of red blood cells. Molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) experiments over 100 ns of compound 11 showed its ability to interact with the HEM binding site as the co-crystallized ligand (fluconazole). Finally, <i>in silico</i> ADMET studies predicted its significant oral bioavailability as antifungal candidates.</p>","PeriodicalId":21462,"journal":{"name":"RSC medicinal chemistry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12108968/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144174784","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The relationship between cancer risk and cystic fibrosis: the role of CFTR in cell growth and cancer development.","authors":"Radek Indra, Věra Černá","doi":"10.1039/d5md00203f","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5md00203f","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-limiting genetic disease that affects multiple organ systems. It is caused by a mutation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which results in the absence or damage of a relevant protein. If left untreated, it causes death in early childhood. The advent of more efficacious treatments has resulted in a notable increase in the life expectancy of CF patients. This has, in turn, led to an elevated risk of developing specific types of cancer. This review commences with an examination of CF from the standpoint of its etiology and therapeutic modalities. Subsequently, it presents a list of epidemiological studies that suggest an altered predisposition to certain cancers. A heightened risk is well documented, particularly in relation to the gastrointestinal tract. The following section addresses the role of CFTR in view of its potential involvement in the progression of various types of cancer. Several studies have indicated that the levels of the CFTR protein are reduced in many tumors and that this reduction is associated with the progression of the tumors. These decreased expressions are known to occur in the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, bladder, and/or prostate cancer. Conversely, ovarian, stomach, and cervical cancer are connected with its higher expression. The final section of the review focuses on the molecular mechanism of action of the CFTR protein in signaling pathways that affect cell proliferation and the process of carcinogenesis. This section attempts to explain the increased predisposition to cancer observed in patients with CF.</p>","PeriodicalId":21462,"journal":{"name":"RSC medicinal chemistry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12107394/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144174789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Eric L Dane, Aditya R Pote, Martin Hemmerling, Werngard Czechtizky, Liping Zhou, Annette Bak
{"title":"New ionizable lipids for non-viral mRNA delivery with secondary amine cyclic ether head groups.","authors":"Eric L Dane, Aditya R Pote, Martin Hemmerling, Werngard Czechtizky, Liping Zhou, Annette Bak","doi":"10.1039/d5md00115c","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5md00115c","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are the most widely used non-viral delivery approach for messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA). Among the different components in an LNP, the ionizable lipid plays critical roles in interacting with the mRNA cargo and facilitating delivery to the cytosol, as well as influencing the LNP's tissue tropism <i>via</i> the protein corona. To date the most successful ionizable lipids have relied on a tertiary amine head group as the site of protonation. We hypothesized that potent ionizable lipids based on a secondary amine could be discovered using a design, make, test and analyze (DMTA) cycle approach. Starting from a lead lipid with a secondary amine cyclic ether head group, we optimized delivery efficiency by systematically modifying the lipid linker length, tail symmetry, tail branching pattern, and head group structure. The mRNA-LNPs formulated with these lipids were evaluated <i>in vivo</i> by quantifying liver protein expression. Using this rational lipid design strategy, we identified many candidates that outperformed the benchmark lipid (MC3), supporting the further development of this ionizable lipid class. Notably, several structure activity relationships (SARs) that highlight how sensitive ionizable lipid activity is to relatively minor structural changes are reported.</p>","PeriodicalId":21462,"journal":{"name":"RSC medicinal chemistry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12107392/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144174780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Design, synthesis and antitumor activity evaluation of novel IMPDH II and HDAC1 dual inhibitor.","authors":"Fang-Bo Deng, Hong-Wei Jia, De-Xiang Hu, Zhen-Li Li, Xiao-Meng Xiu, Xue-Qi Zhao, Yang Liu, Hua-Li Yang, Maosheng Cheng","doi":"10.1039/d5md00007f","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d5md00007f","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The development of multi-target inhibitors has garnered considerable attention in the field of cancer therapy. We have designed and synthesized a total of 80 derivatives, categorized into <b>A</b>, <b>B</b>, and <b>C</b> series. Among these compounds, C12 (<i>h</i>IMPDH II, IC<sub>50</sub> = 84.69 ± 0.83 nM; HDAC1, IC<sub>50</sub> = 81.75 ± 0.82 nM) and C18 (<i>h</i>IMPDH II, IC<sub>50</sub> = 820.50 ± 1.41 nM; HDAC1, IC<sub>50</sub> = 131.90 ± 1.02 nM) exhibited promising inhibitory activity against <i>h</i>IMPDH II and HDAC1. Compared to the IMPDH-positive compound MPA (IC<sub>50</sub> = 403.23 ± 2.92 nM) and the HDAC-positive compound SAHA (IC<sub>50</sub> = 1165.72 ± 1.22 nM), compound C12 (IC<sub>50</sub> value of 305.31 ± 0.67 nM) demonstrated superior anti-proliferative activity against K-562 cells <i>in vitro</i>. Compound C12 exhibited good liver microsomal stability with a moderate half-life (<i>T</i> <sub>1/2</sub>). Furthermore, compound C12 exhibited acceptable <i>in vivo</i> pharmacokinetics of properties. In conclusion, compound C12 represents a potential new dual inhibitor targeting both <i>h</i>IMPDH II and HDAC1.</p>","PeriodicalId":21462,"journal":{"name":"RSC medicinal chemistry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12094184/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144128533","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"NLRP3 inflammasome: structure, mechanism, drug-induced organ toxicity, therapeutic strategies, and future perspectives.","authors":"Desh Deepak Singh","doi":"10.1039/d5md00167f","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5md00167f","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Drug-induced toxicity is an important issue in clinical medicine, which typically results in organ dysfunction and adverse health consequences. The family of NOD-like receptors (NLRs) includes intracellular proteins involved in recognizing pathogens and triggering innate immune responses, including the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. The NLRP3 (nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family, pyrin domain-containing 3) inflammasome is a critical component for both innate and adaptive immune responses and has been implicated in various drug-induced toxicities, including hepatic, renal, and cardiovascular diseases. The unusual activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome causes the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β and IL-18, which can lead to more damage to tissues. Targeting NLRP3 inflammasome is a potential therapeutic endeavour for suppressing drug-induced toxicity. This review provides insights into the mechanism, drug-induced organ toxicity, therapeutic strategies, and prospective therapeutic approaches of the NLRP3 inflammasome and summarizes the developing therapies that target the inflammasome unit. This review has taken up one of the foremost endeavours in understanding and inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome as a means of generating safer pharmacological therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":21462,"journal":{"name":"RSC medicinal chemistry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12070810/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144080065","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Design, synthesis and biological studies of carbazole-thiosemicarbazone hybrids as potential topoisomerase II catalytic inhibitors.","authors":"PengHui Li, LiJun Xie, ShiYan Feng, XuDong Xiang, ChunXia Chen, LiangXiong Xu","doi":"10.1039/d5md00234f","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5md00234f","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this study, carbazole-thiosemicarbazone hybrids were designed, synthesized and investigated for their topoisomerase II (Topo II) inhibition and antiproliferative activity. Results showed that compounds C1 and C3 could significantly inhibit the activity of Topo II at 10 μM. Meanwhile, mechanism studies revealed that these hybrids act as non-intercalative Topo II catalytic inhibitors. Additionally, molecular docking revealed the promising binding of the investigated members toward Topo II, with the potential to occupy the ATPase domain. Interestingly, these hybrids exhibited strong antiproliferative activity against HeLa, A549, LNCaP, and MG63 cancer cell lines. Furthermore, compounds C1 and C3 could significantly induce apoptosis and inhibit the migration and clonogenic survival of MG63 cells.</p>","PeriodicalId":21462,"journal":{"name":"RSC medicinal chemistry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12109611/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144174777","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Niku Moni Das, Biswa Mohan Prusty, Adyasa Sahoo, Priyanka Mazumder, Suravi Chauhan, Gunanka Hazarika, Sachin Kumar, Debdas Dhabal, Debasis Manna
{"title":"Photoresponsive prodrug for regulated inhibition of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 enzyme activity.","authors":"Niku Moni Das, Biswa Mohan Prusty, Adyasa Sahoo, Priyanka Mazumder, Suravi Chauhan, Gunanka Hazarika, Sachin Kumar, Debdas Dhabal, Debasis Manna","doi":"10.1039/d5md00061k","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d5md00061k","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Targeting indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for both cancer and Alzheimer's disease due to its critical role in modulating immune response and neurodegenerative processes. This study provides comprehensive evidence that thiourea derivatives of 2-imidazole-substituted 1-methyltryptamines exhibit strong binding affinity for the active site of IDO1. This interaction significantly inhibits the activity of the enzyme, which is an essential factor in tumour immune evasion and neuroinflammation. Furthermore, we have successfully developed a novel prodrug formulation that can restore the action of this potent IDO1 inhibitor upon photoirradiation. This prodrug represents a strategic advancement, allowing for spatial and temporal control of the therapeutic effect, potentially minimizing side effects and enhancing efficacy. Our findings underscore the potential of these compounds as valuable tools in the fight against cancer and Alzheimer's disease, paving the way for future research and clinical applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":21462,"journal":{"name":"RSC medicinal chemistry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12087056/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144111539","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Revisiting the role of steroidal therapeutics in the 21st century: an update on FDA approved steroidal drugs (2000-2024).","authors":"Ranjit Singh, Ranju Bansal","doi":"10.1039/d5md00027k","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5md00027k","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Steroids are biologically active polycyclic compounds that have garnered significant scientific attention due to their distinct physiochemical properties and diverse medical applications. Since their invention more than 90 years ago, steroids have remained the most important and necessary class of regulatory molecules in the evolution process of living creatures and have fascinated scientists due to their broad-spectrum biological activities. Over time, scientific innovations and expanded understanding of mechanisms related to diversified biological activities of steroids have made them cheaper, efficient and more specific therapeutic agents which could be effective in the prevention and cure of numerous diseases like cancer, inflammation, asthma, microbial infection, and many more. However, steroidal drugs remain a double-edged sword having significant therapeutic benefits but with incidence of several adverse effects if used for a longer duration and/or with incorrect dose. Nevertheless, novel treatment approaches such as nanoparticles or liposomal drug delivery, real-time monitoring and the use of artificial intelligence in steroidal therapy outweigh their risk factors and provide an effective and safe treatment with minimum adverse effects. Furthermore, the repurposing of steroids in different diseases, <i>e.g.</i> successful use of dexamethasone or hydrocortisone during COVID-19 pandemic has renewed the interest in steroidal therapeutics. The present review provides an update on FDA approved steroidal drugs during the years 2000-2024, the status of their clinical studies, the challenges offered by steroidal therapy and the future perspectives to counterbalance all these challenges. Moreover, this review also delivers useful data on the repurposing of steroidal drugs against various diseases along with the novel techniques used for improved steroid delivery.</p>","PeriodicalId":21462,"journal":{"name":"RSC medicinal chemistry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12060906/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144022255","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel β-caryophyllene derivatives as potential anti-cancer agents through the ROS-mediated apoptosis pathway.","authors":"Zhiwei Wang, Yang Chen, Anjie Huang, Hui Wen, Yetian Wu, Xingjun Xu, Zhongjing Qiao, Liangyu Chen, Yaopeng Zhao, Xinmiao Liang","doi":"10.1039/d4md00951g","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4md00951g","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As a top-three cancer in global incidence and mortality, colorectal cancer (CRC) urgently demands novel treatments. β-Caryophyllene (β-CP) and its derivatives, a class of sesquiterpenoids with broad anticancer potential, were structurally optimized in this study to enhance efficacy against CRC. Among the synthesized derivatives, AC-7 exhibited potent cytotoxicity and selectivity in HT-29 cells (IC<sub>50</sub> = 3.09 μM, SI = 6.1), comparable to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU, IC<sub>50</sub> = 3.63 μM, SI = 0.4). Network pharmacology and gene enrichment analyses indicated that apoptosis, autophagy, ROS, and NF-κB were key downstream pathways of AC-7, which were later validated experimentally. AC-7 arrested the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase, promoted autophagy and apoptosis. ROS were identified as having a central role in regulating these related pathways. <i>In vivo</i> studies revealed the significant antitumor and DNA damage activity of AC-7 in a nude mouse model. These findings suggest that AC-7 is a promising candidate for anti-CRC therapy, acting through the ROS-mediated apoptosis pathway.</p>","PeriodicalId":21462,"journal":{"name":"RSC medicinal chemistry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12061030/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144042214","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Salicylamide derivatives as potent HBV inhibitors: insights into structure-activity relationships.","authors":"Jingwen Huo, Jizhen Xiao, Yushi Zhang, Xinhui Qiu, Xuechen Huang, Ge Wang, Jianhao Wang, Kuancheng Liu, Jimin Xu","doi":"10.1039/d5md00222b","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5md00222b","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Current HBV treatment with nucleos(t)ide analogs requires lifelong administration and is associated with the risk of drug resistance, underscoring the urgent need for novel antivirals with alternative targets. Herein, we reported the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a series of salicylamide derivatives as potent anti-HBV agents. The nine selected compounds exhibited dose-dependent inhibitory effects on HBV replication, as evidenced by significant reductions in both virion DNA and the secretion levels of HBsAg and HBeAg. Among them, compounds 50 and 56 exhibited the highest anti-HBV activity (IC<sub>50</sub> = 0.52 and 0.47 μM, respectively) and selectivity (SI = 20.1 and 17.6, respectively). Mechanistic studies revealed that compounds 27, 31, and 47 impaired HBV core protein (HBc) expression, while compound 50 disrupted capsid formation without significantly affecting HBc expression. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of salicylamide derivatives as promising anti-HBV agents and provide a foundation for further structural optimization and mechanistic exploration.</p>","PeriodicalId":21462,"journal":{"name":"RSC medicinal chemistry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12059771/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143978044","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}