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5th Meeting of Medicinal Biotechnology / 2nd Iberian Congress on Medicinal Biotechnology

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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pharmacology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 March 2023) | Viewed by 10939

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Prof. Dr. Ricardo F Ferraz

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Guest Editor

Ciências Químicas e Biomoléculas, Escola Superior de Saúde – Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 400, 4200 - 072 Porto, Portugal
Interests: ionic liquids; development of new drugs; structural analysis of organic molecules; antibiotic resistance; therapeutic applications of ionic liquids; peptide synthesis
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Prof. Dr. Cristina Prudêncio

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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The International Journal of Molecular Sciences will be associated to the “5th Meeting Of Medicinal Biotechnology / 2nd Iberian Congress On Medicinal Biotechnology” with this Special Issue of the Meeting.

The 5th Meeting of Medicinal Biotechnology / 2nd Iberian Congress On Medicinal Biotechnology will be held at the Auditorium Rosário Gambôa, School of Health | Porto Polytechnic on October 21st, 2022.

The main goal of this meeting is to create a scientific framework in the field of Medicinal Biotechnology and related fields, to promote the exchange of ideas and experiences, collaboration and mobility among researchers, particularly from Portugal and Spain.

The meeting scientific program includes excellent speakers with plenary lectures oral communications and a high number of posters communications.

Participants of the conference are cordially invited to contribute original research papers or reviews to this Special Issue of the IJMS that will address cutting-edge scientific research and technological applications focused on Medicinal Biotechnology. Contributions on the Medicinal Biotechnology field, from medicinal chemistry to biotechnology therapeutics, will be most welcome.

Prof. Dr. Ricardo F Ferraz
Prof. Dr. Cristina Prudêncio
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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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

medicinal biotechnology
medicinal chemistry
regenerative medicine
biothecnlogy therapeutics
biomedical technologies

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1402 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ionic Levothyroxine Formulations: Synthesis, Bioavailability, and Cytotoxicity Studies

by António Barreira, Andreia F. M. Santos, Madalena Dionísio, Ana R. Jesus, Ana Rita C. Duarte, Željko Petrovski, Ana B. Paninho, Márcia G. Ventura and Luis C. Branco

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(10), 8822; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24108822 - 16 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2612

Abstract

Thyroid diseases affect a considerable portion of the population, with hypothyroidism being one of the most commonly reported thyroid diseases. Levothyroxine (T4) is clinically used to treat hypothyroidism and suppress thyroid stimulating hormone secretion in other thyroid diseases. In this work, an attempt to improve T4 solubility is made through the synthesis of ionic liquids (ILs) based on this drug. In this context, [Na][T4] was combined with choline [Ch]⁺ and 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-methylimidazolium [C₂OHMiM]⁺ cations in order to prepare the desired T4-ILs. All compounds were characterized by NMR, ATR-FTIR, elemental analysis, and DSC, aiming to check their chemical structure, purities, and thermal properties. The serum, water, and PBS solubilities of the T4-ILs were compared to [Na][T4], as well as the permeability assays. It is important to note an improved adsorption capacity, in which no significant cytotoxicity was observed against L929 cells. [C₂OHMiM][T4] seems to be a good alternative to the commercial levothyroxine sodium salt with promising bioavailability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 5th Meeting of Medicinal Biotechnology / 2nd Iberian Congress on Medicinal Biotechnology)

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11 pages, 2060 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improving the Antimycobacterial Drug Clofazimine through Formation of Organic Salts by Combination with Fluoroquinolones

by Clara M. Bento, Ana Teresa Silva, Bruno Mansano, Luísa Aguiar, Cátia Teixeira, Maria Salomé Gomes, Paula Gomes, Tânia Silva and Ricardo Ferraz

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(2), 1402; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24021402 - 11 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2228

Abstract

This work reports the synthesis, structural and thermal analysis, and in vitro evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of two new organic salts (OSs) derived from the antimycobacterial drug clofazimine and the fluoroquinolones ofloxacin or norfloxacin. Organic salts derived from active pharmaceutical ingredients (API-OSs), as those herein disclosed, hold promise as cost-effective formulations with improved features over their parent drugs, thus enabling the mitigation of some of their shortcomings. For instance, in the specific case of clofazimine, its poor solubility severely limits its bioavailability. As compared to clofazimine, the clofazimine-derived OSs now reported have improved solubility and thermostability, without any major deleterious effects on the drug’s bioactivity profile. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 5th Meeting of Medicinal Biotechnology / 2nd Iberian Congress on Medicinal Biotechnology)

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14 pages, 1575 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Insights into the 3D In Vitro Permeability and In Vivo Antioxidant Protective Effects of Kiwiberry Leaf Extract: A Step Forward to Human Nutraceutical Use

by Ana Margarida Silva, Andreia Almeida, Stefano Dall’Acqua, Francesca Loschi, Bruno Sarmento, Paulo C. Costa, Cristina Delerue-Matos and Francisca Rodrigues

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(22), 14130; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232214130 - 16 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1893

Abstract

Actinidia arguta (Siebold & Zucc.) Planch. ex Miq. (kiwiberry) leaves are a source of phenolic compounds with pro-health biological effects, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Despite the huge number of studies reporting the composition of A. arguta leaves, no in vitro or in vivo studies explore its potential use as nutraceutical ingredient based on these activities. Therefore, this study aims to characterize the safety profile of kiwiberry leaf extracts using in vitro and in vivo approaches through the assessment of intestinal cell viability (Caco-2 and HT29-MTX), 3D intestinal permeation, and, most important, the redox markers, biochemical profile and liver and kidney function effects after the animal assays. Briefly, wistar rats were orally treated for 7 days with kiwiberry leaf extracts (50 and 75 mg/kg bw), water (negative control), or vitamin C (positive control). The cell viability was above 90% at 1000 μg/mL for both cells. Coumaroyl quinic acid and rutin achieved a permeation higher than 25% in the 3D intestinal model. The animal studies confirmed the extracts’ ability to increase superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase content in animals’ livers and kidneys while simultaneously decreasing the triglycerides content. This study highlighted the antioxidant capacity of kiwiberry leaf extracts, ensuring their efficacy and safety as a nutraceutical ingredient. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 5th Meeting of Medicinal Biotechnology / 2nd Iberian Congress on Medicinal Biotechnology)

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Review

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23 pages, 6155 KiB

Open AccessReview

Electrochemical Chemically Based Sensors and Emerging Enzymatic Biosensors for Antidepressant Drug Detection: A Review

by Renato Caldevilla, Stephanie L. Morais, Agostinho Cruz, Cristina Delerue-Matos, Fernando Moreira, João G. Pacheco, Marlene Santos and Maria Fátima Barroso

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(10), 8480; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24108480 - 9 May 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3231

Abstract

Major depressive disorder is a widespread condition with antidepressants as the main pharmacological treatment. However, some patients experience concerning adverse reactions or have an inadequate response to treatment. Analytical chromatographic techniques, among other techniques, are valuable tools for investigating medication complications, including those associated with antidepressants. Nevertheless, there is a growing need to address the limitations associated with these techniques. In recent years, electrochemical (bio)sensors have garnered significant attention due to their lower cost, portability, and precision. Electrochemical (bio)sensors can be used for various applications related to depression, such as monitoring the levels of antidepressants in biological and in environmental samples. They can provide accurate and rapid results, which could facilitate personalized treatment and improve patient outcomes. This state-of-the-art literature review aims to explore the latest advancements in the electrochemical detection of antidepressants. The review focuses on two types of electrochemical sensors: Chemically modified sensors and enzyme-based biosensors. The referred papers are carefully categorized according to their respective sensor type. The review examines the differences between the two sensing methods, highlights their unique features and limitations, and provides an in-depth analysis of each sensor. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 5th Meeting of Medicinal Biotechnology / 2nd Iberian Congress on Medicinal Biotechnology)

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