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Applied Sciences
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Synthetic and Natural Drugs: Pharmacological Activity, Biochemical Properties, and Applications
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Synthetic and Natural Drugs: Pharmacological Activity, Biochemical Properties, and Applications

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2025 | Viewed by 1767

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Kasireddy Sudarshan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
Interests: targeted oligonucleotide delivery; structure-based drug design; cancer biology; immunotherapy
Dr. Hari Prasad Devkota

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan
Interests: bioactive natural products; phytochemistry; inflammation; flavonoids; functional foods
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The study of both synthetic and natural drugs offers profound insights into their pharmacological activities, biochemical properties, and diverse therapeutic applications. In recent years, there has been remarkable progress in the development of synthetic drugs with targeted mechanisms, as well as in the exploration of natural products with unique bioactive compounds. This ongoing research plays a pivotal role in drug discovery and development, advancing the field of medicine by providing innovative treatments for various diseases and health conditions.

However, significant challenges remain. The synthesis and discovery of drugs must address issues such as optimizing bioavailability, improving selectivity, minimizing side effects, and overcoming resistance mechanisms. Additionally, the identification and characterization of natural compounds from plant, marine, and microbial sources require the integration of advanced biochemical and pharmacological approaches. The field is also shifting towards personalized medicine, where drug efficacy is tailored to individual patients based on genetic, metabolic, and environmental factors.

In this Special Issue, we invite submissions that explore both synthetic and natural drugs, focusing on their pharmacological actions, biochemical interactions, and clinical potential. Topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:

  • Development of new synthetic drug candidates with enhanced efficacy and safety profiles;
  • Pharmacological activities of natural products and their potential therapeutic applications;
  • Mechanisms of action at the cellular and molecular level;
  • Advances in drug design and discovery using structure-based and computational approaches;
  • Biochemical properties of drug compounds affecting absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME);
  • Drug resistance mechanisms and strategies to overcome them;
  • Synergistic effects of combination therapies involving synthetic and/or natural drugs;
  • Case studies on drug application in treating specific diseases;
  • Challenges and opportunities in translating drug candidates from preclinical to clinical settings;
  • Comparative studies on the efficacy and safety of synthetic versus natural drugs.

We encourage original research articles, reviews, and case studies that showcase recent advancements and future directions in the field of pharmacology and biochemistry of synthetic and natural drugs. This Special Issue aims to foster interdisciplinary research and stimulate new collaborations between synthetic organic chemists, pharmacologists, biochemists, and medical researchers to further enhance our understanding and application of these drugs.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions. 

Dr. Kasireddy Sudarshan
Dr. Hari Prasad Devkota
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. Applied Sciences 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 2400 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

  • synthetic drugs
  • natural products
  • pharmacological activity
  • biochemical properties
  • drug discovery
  • mechanisms of action
  • ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion)
  • drug design
  • drug resistance
  • combination therapies
  • targeted therapy
  • therapeutic applications
  • personalized medicine
  • structure-based drug design
  • preclinical to clinical translation

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 2937 KB  
Article
Assessment of Antioxidant, Antiproliferative and Proapoptotic Potential of Aqueous Extracts of Chroococcus sp. R-10
by Inna Sulikovska, Tanya Toshkova-Yotova, Elina Tsvetanova, Vera Djeliova, Vesela Lozanova, Anelia Vasileva, Ivaylo Ivanov, Reneta Toshkova and Ani Georgieva
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(19), 10628; https://doi.org/10.3390/app151910628 - 1 Oct 2025
Abstract
The rising incidence of cancer and the limitations of current therapeutic strategies underscore the urgent need to identify novel bioactive compounds for antitumor drug development. Cyanobacteria are widespread Gram-negative, photoautotrophic prokaryotes that have been recognized as an important source of biologically active secondary [...] Read more.
The rising incidence of cancer and the limitations of current therapeutic strategies underscore the urgent need to identify novel bioactive compounds for antitumor drug development. Cyanobacteria are widespread Gram-negative, photoautotrophic prokaryotes that have been recognized as an important source of biologically active secondary metabolites with vast potential for application in the fields of pharmaceutics. The aim of the present study was to analyze the phytochemical composition, antioxidant, and antitumor activities of low-temperature (LT) and high-temperature (HT) aqueous extracts of the cyanobacterium Chroococcus sp. R-10. Extracts were prepared and analyzed for phytochemical composition using UPLC-DAD, and antioxidant activity was tested via multiple assays. Antiproliferative effects were evaluated on human tumor cell lines, and the effects on cell cycle progression studied using flow cytometry. Fluorescence microscopy was employed to examine extract-induced cytomorphological changes in the treated cancer cells. UPLC-DAD analyses showed very similar chromatographic profiles of the extracts and identified glycogen as their main constituent. Both extracts displayed concentration-dependent antioxidant activity, with notable radical scavenging and ferric-reducing capacity. LT extract demonstrated higher phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. Both extracts reduced cell viability, particularly in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast carcinoma cell lines. Flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy analyses revealed that the suppressed proliferative activity of the cancer cells was associated with a retardation of cell cycle progression and apoptosis induction. This study identifies Chroococcus sp. R-10 as a promising source of phytochemical compounds with pharmaceutical relevance and provides a rationale for further investigations to identify the primary bioactive constituents and elucidate their mechanisms of anticancer action. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthetic and Natural Drugs: Pharmacological Activity, Biochemical Properties, and Applications)
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21 pages, 5089 KB  
Article
Mechanical Characterization and Azithromycin Coating of Melt Electrowritten Polycaprolactone Mesh Implants for Prolapse Repair
by Joana Pinheiro Martins, Ana Sofia Sousa, Sofia Costa de Oliveira, António Augusto Fernandes and Elisabete Silva
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(17), 9436; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15179436 - 28 Aug 2025
Viewed by 445
Abstract
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) cases have been rising, affecting women’s quality of life. Severe cases often require surgical mesh implants, which can cause complications like tissue erosion and infection, leading the FDA to ban transvaginal meshes for POP. To address this, polycaprolactone (PCL) [...] Read more.
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) cases have been rising, affecting women’s quality of life. Severe cases often require surgical mesh implants, which can cause complications like tissue erosion and infection, leading the FDA to ban transvaginal meshes for POP. To address this, polycaprolactone (PCL) mesh implants, produced via melt electrowriting (MEW), were evaluated mechanically and coated with azithromycin, an antibiotic for genitourinary infections. Uniaxial tensile and cyclic tests assessed the long-term behavior of the meshes over 100 cycles. The results show that while all PCL meshes had similar behavior, those with 1 mm pores sustained higher stress, whereas 1.5 mm pore size meshes had mechanical properties closer to vaginal tissue but remained stiffer. Cyclic tests revealed initial damage and hardening during plastic deformation, with tensile tests confirming increased stiffness, as Young’s modulus rose between 19.2% and 29.3%. Zone inhibition and biofilm assays evaluated azithromycin’s effectiveness against bacterial infection. Even though FTIR analysis could not confirm antibiotic incorporation, the drug coated meshes show inhibitory activity against E. coli biofilm formation and MSSA in its planktonic state. Scanning Electron Microscopy supported these findings. These results suggest that MEW-fabricated PCL meshes coated with azithromycin hold promise as improved implants for POP treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthetic and Natural Drugs: Pharmacological Activity, Biochemical Properties, and Applications)
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20 pages, 2740 KB  
Article
Antistatic Melt-Electrowritten Biodegradable Mesh Implants for Enhanced Pelvic Organ Prolapse Repair
by Daniela Cruz, Francisca Vaz, Evangelia Antoniadi, Ana Telma Silva, Joana Martins, Fábio Pinheiro, Nuno Miguel Ferreira, Luís B. Bebiano, Rúben F. Pereira, António Fernandes and Elisabete Silva
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(14), 7763; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15147763 - 10 Jul 2025
Viewed by 518
Abstract
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a health condition that can significantly impact patients’ quality of life. Unfortunately, most available treatments present drawbacks such as high recurrence rates, risk of complications, poor tissue integration, and the need for reintervention. One promising alternative is the [...] Read more.
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a health condition that can significantly impact patients’ quality of life. Unfortunately, most available treatments present drawbacks such as high recurrence rates, risk of complications, poor tissue integration, and the need for reintervention. One promising alternative is the use of biodegradable implantable meshes, which can support the organs, guide tissue regeneration, and be fully absorbed without damaging the surrounding tissues. In this study, biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) meshes were fabricated using melt electrowritten (MEW), incorporating the antistatic agent Hostastat® FA 38 (HT) to address these limitations. The goal was to produce microscaffolds with suitable biophysical properties, particularly more stable fiber deposition and reduced fiber diameter. Different HT concentrations (0.03, 0.06, and 0.1 wt%) were investigated to assess their influence on the fiber diameter and mechanical properties of the PCL meshes. Increasing HT concentration significantly reduced fiber diameter by 14–17%, 39–45%, and 65–66%, depending on mesh geometry (square or sinusoidal). At 0.06 wt%, PCL/HT meshes showed a 24.10% increase in tensile strength and a 55.59% increase in Young’s Modulus compared to pure PCL meshes of similar diameter. All formulations demonstrated cell viability >90%. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed preserved thermal stability and changes in crystallinity with HT addition. These findings indicate that the antistatic agent yields promising results, enabling the production of thinner, more stable fibers with higher tensile strength and Young’s Modulus than PCL meshes, without adding cellular toxicity. Developing a thinner and more stable mesh that mimics vaginal tissue mechanics could offer an innovative solution for POP repair. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthetic and Natural Drugs: Pharmacological Activity, Biochemical Properties, and Applications)
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