Innovations in the Design of Biologically Active Copper Complexes for Metal-Based Drug Development

About this Research Topic

Background

Over the past few decades, the evolution of diseases has necessitated diversification in treatment approaches. Traditional methods are becoming less effective as bacterial infections increasingly resist antibiotics, and cancer treatments like cytostatics become cost-prohibitive with diminishing returns due to resistance. Additionally, there is a pressing need for effective drugs for conditions such as diabetes mellitus, viral and parasitic infections, and inflammatory diseases. Copper complexes offer promising avenues due to their tunable chemical and biological properties via ligand selection. There's growing interest in designing copper complexes with diverse biological effects and developing administration routes that sustain these properties in vivo.

Current challenges with metal-based drugs—for example, those used in cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and microbial infections—include severe side effects, toxicity, and resistance. While some Cu(II) complexes have entered clinical trials, few have been successfully developed into drugs due to issues like low stability in biological media and suboptimal lipophilicity-to-water-solubility ratios. The overarching challenge lies in developing copper complexes that marry robust biological activity with minimal toxicity and effective administration. Opportunities exist in the strategic selection of ligand mixtures, the rational design of Cu(II) complexes for selective delivery or specific biomolecule interactions, and integrating complexes into biocompatible matrices to enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity. There is potential for Cu(II) complexes in treating viral infections, neurodegenerative disorders, and inflammatory diseases, showcasing the compound's versatility for drug development.

This Research Topic aims to provide new insights into developing copper complexes with strong biological activity (such as anti-tumor, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory properties) and low toxicity, along with effective carrier systems for their delivery. We encourage submissions of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective articles, specifically those utilizing single crystal X-ray diffraction for fully characterizing copper complexes.

To gather further insights into this scope, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

-Biologically active Cu(II) complexes for overcoming resistance
-Copper complexes with anti-biofilm activity
-Rational design of Cu(II) complexes for selective interaction with target biomolecules
-Enhancing biological activity through embedding Cu(II) species (including Cu, Zn-SOD, Casiopeinas, Chlorophyllin) in organic or inorganic matrices
-Stimuli-responsive systems based on Cu(II) complexes
-Complexes of Cu(II) that interact with biomolecules through multiple modes

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Keywords: Copper complexes, Cu(II) complexes, drug development, biologically active, antibiotic resistance

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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