Antioxidant Drug Candidates: Mechanistic and Computational Insights into Free Radical Scavenging and Redox Modulation

A special issue of Drugs and Drug Candidates (ISSN 2813-2998).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2026 | Viewed by 1399

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Science, Institute for Information Technologies Kragujevac, University of Kragujevac, Jovana Cvijića bb, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
Interests: antioxidant activity; antimicrobial activity; metal complexes; molecular docking; DFT calculations; enzyme inhibition; drug design
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Oxidative stress is a well-established contributor to the onset and progression of numerous diseases, including neurodegenerative, oncological, cardiovascular, and inflammatory disorders. Therefore, the discovery and development of novel antioxidant compounds with drug-like properties is a key priority in medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical research.

We are pleased to invite you to submit your work to the Special Issue “Antioxidant Drug Candidates: Mechanistic and Computational Insights into Free Radical Scavenging and Redox Modulation” in the journal Drugs and Drug Candidates. This Special Issue focuses on chemically defined structures—either natural, semi-synthetic, or fully synthetic—with a demonstrated or predicted antioxidant activity, evaluated as potential therapeutic agents.

We especially welcome studies that relate to the following areas:

  • Synthesis and structural characterization of new antioxidant compounds;
  • Chemical modification of natural products to improve stability, bioavailability, and selectivity;
  • Structure-based design and optimization of antioxidant drug candidates;
  • In silico screening and quantum chemical prediction of antioxidant potential;
  • Evaluation of free radical scavenging and metal-chelating properties;
  • Dual-action compounds with antioxidant and therapeutic effects (e.g., anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anticancer).

Note: Submissions must focus on defined compounds with clear chemical profiles. Manuscripts that primarily discuss physiological effects without compound-level data or mechanistic rationale will not be considered.

We welcome original research articles, reviews.

We look forward to receiving your high-quality contributions.

Dr. Žiko B. Milanović
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. Drugs and Drug Candidates is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1000 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

  • antioxidants
  • oxidative stress
  • natural products
  • structure–activity relationship
  • redox mechanisms

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

31 pages, 1695 KB  
Review
Rational Design of Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidants: From Molecular Determinants to Clinical Perspectives
by Beata Franczyk, Kinga Bojdo, Jakub Chłądzyński, Katarzyna Hossa, Katarzyna Krawiranda, Natalia Krupińska, Natalia Kustosik, Klaudia Leszto, Wiktoria Lisińska, Anna Wieczorek, Jacek Rysz and Ewelina Młynarska
Drugs Drug Candidates 2026, 5(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/ddc5010009 - 20 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 594
Abstract
Oxidative stress, caused by an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and endogenous antioxidant capacity, is a key etiological factor in numerous pathologies, including neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. The limited clinical efficacy of conventional antioxidants is primarily due to their insufficient [...] Read more.
Oxidative stress, caused by an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and endogenous antioxidant capacity, is a key etiological factor in numerous pathologies, including neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. The limited clinical efficacy of conventional antioxidants is primarily due to their insufficient accumulation within the mitochondria, the main site of intracellular ROS generation. This article reviews the design and application of Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidants, which represent a major advance in precision medicine. The design of these compounds involves linking an antioxidant “payload” to a lipophilic cation, such as the triphenylphosphonium group. This positive charge leverages the negative electrochemical gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane to drive the antioxidant into the organelle. This mechanism allows the drug to reach concentrations over 100 times higher than non-targeted alternatives. The discussion encompasses the structure-activity analysis of the carrier, the payload (e.g., quinone derivatives), and the linker, which determine optimal subcellular partitioning and scavenging efficiency. Preclinical data highlight the therapeutic potential of this approach, showing strong neuroprotection in models of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, as well as improved outcomes in cardiovascular and ocular health. By restoring redox balance specifically within the mitochondria, these targeted therapies offer a more effective way to treat chronic oxidative damage. Full article
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