Some nontoxic metal-based drugs for selected prevalent tropical pathogenic diseases.

Metal coordination of bioorganic compounds from both natural and synthetic products is not only gaining recognition in drug design and medicinal inorganic chemistry research, also they are being considered in the improvement of the bioactivity of drugs. What is done in this paper is a review of recent advances in the study of coordination-driven drug delivery, i.e., metal-based drugs (MBDs). The role of some late first row transition metal ions namely Fe, Cu and Zn in the biological activities of metallodrugs such as antimalarials and antimicrobials are highlighted. It was revealed that the interaction between these bio-essential transition metal ions and the organic drugs could enhance the diagnostic and therapeutic potentials of such formed drugs. This is because such interactions were proved to have improved the stability, bioavailability and cell delivery functions of the metallodrugs. Emphasizing on the challenge of metal ions toxicity, the researchers concluded on the need for the development of MBDs to combat drug resistant parasites without causing injury to normal cells. This would be of significance in addressing the concern World Health Organisation of ameliorating the increasing mortality rate in developing countries.

Computational modelling of potential Zn-sensitive non-ß-lactam inhibitors of imipenemase-1 (IMP-1).

Antibiotic resistance (AR) remains one of the leading global health challenges, mostly implicated in disease-related deaths. The Enterobacteriaceae-producing metallo-ß-lactamases (MBLs) are critically involved in AR pathogenesis through Zn-dependent catalytic destruction of ß-lactam antibiotics, yet with limited successful clinical inhibitors. The efficacy of relevant broad-spectrum ß-lactams including imipenem and meropenem are seriously challenged by their susceptibility to the Zn-dependent carbapenemase hydrolysis, as such, searching for alternatives remains imperative. In this study, computational molecular modelling and virtual screening methods were extensively applied to identify new putative Zn-sensitive broad-spectrum inhibitors of MBLs, specifically imipenemase-1 (IMP-1) from the IBScreen database. Three ligands, STOCK3S-30154, STOCK3S-30418 and STOCK3S-30514 selectively displayed stronger binding interactions with the enzymes compared to reference inhibitors, imipenem and meropenem. For instance, the ligands showed molecular docking scores of -9.450, -8.005 and -10.159 kcal/mol, and MM-GBSA values of -40.404, -31.902 and -33.680 kcal/mol respectively against the IMP-1. Whereas, imipenem and meropenem showed docking scores of -9.038 and -10.875 kcal/mol, and MM-GBSA of -31.184 and -32.330 kcal/mol respectively against the enzyme. The ligands demonstrated good thermodynamic stability and compactness in complexes with IMP-1 throughout the 100 ns molecular dynamics (MD) trajectories. Interestingly, their binding affinities and stabilities were significantly affected in contacts with the remodelled Zn-deficient IMP-1, indicating sensitivity to the carbapenemase active Zn site, however, with non-ß-lactam scaffolds, tenable to resist catalytic hydrolysis. They displayed ideal drug-like ADMET properties, thus, representing putative Zn-sensitive non-ß-lactam inhibitors of IMP-1 amenable for further experimental studies.

Recent advances on therapeutic potentials of gold and silver nanobiomaterials for human viral diseases.

Viral diseases are prominent among the widely spread infections threatening human well-being. Real-life clinical successes of the few available therapeutics are challenged by pathogenic resistance and suboptimal delivery to target sites. Nanotechnology has aided the design of functionalised and non-functionalised Au and Ag nanobiomaterials through physical, chemical and biological (green synthesis) methods with improved antiviral efficacy and delivery. In this review, innovative designs as well as interesting antiviral activities of the nanotechnology-inclined biomaterials of Au and Ag, reported in the last 5 years were critically overviewed against several viral diseases affecting man. These include influenza, respiratory syncytial, adenovirus, severe acute respiratory syndromes (SARS), rotavirus, norovirus, measles, chikungunya, HIV, herpes simplex virus, dengue, polio, enterovirus and rift valley fever virus. Notably identified among the nanotechnologically designed promising antiviral agents include AuNP-M2e peptide vaccine, AgNP of cinnamon bark extract and AgNP of oseltamivir for influenza, PVP coated AgNP for RSV, PVP-AgNPs for SARS-CoV-2, AuNRs of a peptide pregnancy-induce d hypertension and AuNP nanocarriers of antigen for MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV respectively. Others are AgNPs of collagen and Bacillus subtilis for rotavirus, AgNPs labelled Ag30-SiO 2 for murine norovirus in water, AuNPs of Allium sativum and AgNPs of ribavirin for measles, AgNPs of Citrus limetta and Andrographis Paniculata for Chikungunya, AuNPs of efavirenz and stavudine, and AgNPs-curcumin for HIV, NPAuG3-S8 for HSV, AgNPs of Moringa oleifera and Bruguiera cylindrica for dengue while AgNPs of polyethyleneimine and siRNA analogues displayed potency against enterovirus. The highlighted candidates are recommended for further translational studies towards antiviral therapeutic designs.