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Kapoor DU, Singh S, Sharma P, Prajapati BG. Amorphization of Low Soluble Drug with Amino Acids to Improve Its Therapeutic Efficacy: a State-of-Art-Review. AAPS PharmSciTech 2023; 24:253. [PMID: 38062314 DOI: 10.1208/s12249-023-02709-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Low aqueous solubility of drug candidates is an ongoing challenge and pharmaceutical manufacturers pay close attention to amorphization (AMORP) technology to improve the solubility of drugs that dissolve poorly. Amorphous drug typically exhibits much higher apparent solubility than their crystalline form due to high energy state that enable them to produce a supersaturated state in the gastrointestinal tract and thereby improve bioavailability. The stability and augmented solubility in co-amorphous (COA) formulations is influenced by molecular interactions. COA are excellent carriers-based drug delivery systems for biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS) class II and class IV drugs. The three important critical quality attributes, such as co-formability, physical stability, and dissolution performance, are necessary to illustrate the COA systems. New amorphous-stabilized carriers-based fabrication techniques that improve drug loading and degree of AMORP have been the focus of emerging AMORP technology. Numerous low-molecular-weight compounds, particularly amino acids such as glutamic acid, arginine, isoleucine, leucine, valine, alanine, glycine, etc., have been employed as potential co-formers. The review focus on the prevailing drug AMORP strategies used in pharmaceutical research, including in situ AMORP, COA systems, and mesoporous particle-based methods. Moreover, brief characterization techniques and the application of the different amino acids in stabilization and solubility improvements have been related.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sudarshan Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand.
- Office of Research Administration, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, 50200, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
| | - Pratishtha Sharma
- School of Pharmacy, Raffles University, Neemrana, Rajasthan, 301020, India
| | - Bhupendra G Prajapati
- Shree S. K. Patel College of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Ganpat University, Kherva, 384012, India.
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2
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Verma P, Srivastava A, Tandon P, Shimpi MR. Insights into structural, spectroscopic, and hydrogen bonding interaction patterns of nicotinamide-oxalic acid (form I) salt by using experimental and theoretical approaches. Front Chem 2023; 11:1203278. [PMID: 37476653 PMCID: PMC10354448 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1203278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present work, nicotinamide-oxalic acid (NIC-OXA, form I) salt was crystallized by slow evaporation of an aqueous solution. To understand the molecular structure and spectroscopic properties of NIC after co-crystallization with OXA, experimental infrared (IR), Raman spectroscopic signatures, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques were used to characterize and validate the salt. The density functional theory (DFT) methodology was adopted to perform all theoretical calculations by using the B3LYP/6-311++G (d, p) functional/basis set. The experimental geometrical parameters were matched in good correlation with the theoretical parameters of the dimer than the monomer, due to the fact of covering the nearest hydrogen bonding interactions present in the crystal structure of the salt. The IR and Raman spectra of the dimer showed the red (downward) shifting and broadening of bands among (N15-H16), (N38-H39), and (C13=O14) bonds of NIC and (C26=O24), (C3=O1), and (C26=O25) groups of OXA, hence involved in the formation of NIC-OXA salt. The atoms in molecules (AIM) analysis revealed that (N8-H9···O24) is the strongest (conventional) intermolecular hydrogen bonding interaction in the dimer model of salt with the maximum value of interaction energy -12.1 kcal mol-1. Furthermore, the natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis of the Fock matrix showed that in the dimer model, the (N8-H9···O24) bond is responsible for the stabilization of the salt with an energy value of 13.44 kcal mol-1. The frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs) analysis showed that NIC-OXA (form I) salt is more reactive and less stable than NIC, as the energy gap of NIC-OXA (form I) salt is less than that of NIC. The global and local reactivity descriptor parameters were calculated for the monomer and dimer models of the salt. The electrophilic, nucleophilic, and neutral reactive sites of NIC, OXA, monomer, and dimer models of salt were visualized by plotting the molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) surface. The study provides valuable insights into combining both experimental and theoretical results that could define the physicochemical properties of molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Verma
- Department of Physics, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, India
| | | | - Poonam Tandon
- Department of Physics, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, India
| | - Manishkumar R. Shimpi
- Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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3
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Li M, Reichert P, Narasimhan C, Sorman B, Xu W, Cote A, Su Y. Investigating Crystalline Protein Suspension Formulations of Pembrolizumab from MAS NMR Spectroscopy. Mol Pharm 2022; 19:936-952. [PMID: 35107019 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.1c00915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Developing biological formulations to maintain the chemical and structural integrity of therapeutic antibodies remains a significant challenge. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) crystalline suspension formulation is a promising alternative for high concentration subcutaneous drug delivery. It demonstrates many merits compared to the solution formulation to reach a high concentration at the reduced viscosity and enhanced stability. One main challenge in drug development is the lack of high-resolution characterization of the crystallinity and stability of mAb microcrystals in the native formulations. Conventional analytical techniques often cannot evaluate structural details of mAb microcrystals in the native suspension due to the presence of visible particles, relatively small crystal size, high protein concentration, and multicomponent nature of a liquid formulation. This study demonstrates the first high-resolution characterization of mAb microcrystalline suspension using magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy. Crystalline suspension formulation of pembrolizumab (Keytruda, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, U.S.) is utilized as a model system. Remarkably narrow 13C spectral linewidth of approximately 29 Hz suggests a high order of crystallinity and conformational homogeneity of pembrolizumab crystals. The impact of thermal stress and dehydration on the structure, dynamics, and stability of these mAb crystals in the formulation environment is evaluated. Moreover, isotopic labeling and heteronuclear 13C and 15N spectroscopies have been utilized to identify the binding of caffeine in the pembrolizumab crystal lattice, providing molecular insights into the cocrystallization of the protein and ligand. Our study provides valuable structural details for facilitating the design of crystalline suspension formulation of Keytruda and demonstrates the high potential of MAS NMR as an advanced tool for biophysical characterization of biological therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyue Li
- Analytical Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Paul Reichert
- Discovery Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | | | - Bradley Sorman
- Analytical Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Wei Xu
- Analytical Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Aaron Cote
- Biologics Process Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Yongchao Su
- Analytical Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
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Spiliopoulou M, Valmas A, Triandafillidis DP, Fili S, Christopoulou M, Filopoulou AJ, Piskopou A, Papadea P, Fitch AN, Beckers D, Degen T, Gozzo F, Morin M, Reinle-Schmitt ML, Karavassili F, Rosmaraki E, Chasapis CT, Margiolaki I. High-throughput macromolecular polymorph screening via an NMR and X-ray powder diffraction synergistic approach: the case of human insulin co-crystallized with resorcinol derivatives. J Appl Crystallogr 2021. [DOI: 10.1107/s160057672100426x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Regular injections of insulin provide life-saving benefits to millions of diabetics. Apart from native insulin and insulin analogue formulations, microcrystalline insulin suspensions are also commercially available. The onset of action of the currently available basal insulins relies on the slow dissociation of insulin hexamers in the subcutaneous space due to the strong binding of small organic ligands. With the aim of identifying insulin–ligand complexes with enhanced pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles, the binding affinity of two resorcinol-based molecules (4-chlororesorcinol and 4-bromoresorcinol) and the structural characteristics of insulin upon co-crystallization with them were investigated in the present study. `In solution' measurements were performed via saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR. Co-crystallization upon pH variation resulted in the production of polycrystalline precipitates, whose structural characteristics (i.e. unit-cell symmetry and dimension) were assessed. In both cases, different polymorphs (four and three, respectively) of monoclinic symmetry (P21 and C2 space groups) were identified via X-ray powder diffraction. The results demonstrate the efficiency of a new approach that combines spectroscopy and diffraction techniques and provides an innovative alternative for high-throughput examination of insulin and other therapeutic proteins.
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Zielińska A, Szalata M, Gorczyński A, Karczewski J, Eder P, Severino P, Cabeda JM, Souto EB, Słomski R. Cancer Nanopharmaceuticals: Physicochemical Characterization and In Vitro/In Vivo Applications. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1896. [PMID: 33920840 PMCID: PMC8071188 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, and biopharmaceutical characterization tools play a key role in the assessment of nanopharmaceuticals' potential imaging analysis and for site-specific delivery of anti-cancers to neoplastic cells/tissues. If diagnostic tools and therapeutic approaches are combined in one single nanoparticle, a new platform called nanotheragnostics is generated. Several analytical technologies allow us to characterize nanopharmaceuticals and nanoparticles and their properties so that they can be properly used in cancer therapy. This paper describes the role of multifunctional nanoparticles in cancer diagnosis and treatment, describing how nanotheragnostics can be useful in modern chemotherapy, and finally, the challenges associated with the commercialization of nanoparticles for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Zielińska
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszyńska 32, 60-479 Poznań, Poland; (M.S.); (R.S.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Echnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Marlena Szalata
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszyńska 32, 60-479 Poznań, Poland; (M.S.); (R.S.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Dojazd 11, 60-632 Poznań, Poland
| | - Adam Gorczyński
- Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 8, 61-614 Poznań, Poland;
| | - Jacek Karczewski
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland;
- Department of Gastroenterology, Dietetics and Internal Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Przybyszewskiego 49, 60-355 Poznań, Poland;
| | - Piotr Eder
- Department of Gastroenterology, Dietetics and Internal Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Przybyszewskiego 49, 60-355 Poznań, Poland;
| | - Patrícia Severino
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women & Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 65 Landsdowne Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA;
- Biotechnological Postgraduate Program, Institute of Technology and Research (ITP), Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology Laboratory (LNMed), University of Tiradentes (Unit), Av. Murilo Dantas 300, Aracaju 49010-390, Brazil
- Tiradentes Institute, 150 Mt Vernon St, Dorchester, MA 02125, USA
| | - José M. Cabeda
- ESS-FP, Escola Superior de Saúde Fernando Pessoa, Rua Delfim Maia 334, 4200-253 Porto, Portugal;
- FP-ENAS-Fernando Pessoa Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit, Universidade Fernando Pessoa, Praça 9 de Abril, 349, 4249-004 Porto, Portugal
| | - Eliana B. Souto
- Department of Pharmaceutical Echnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- CEB–Centre of Biological Engineering, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Ryszard Słomski
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszyńska 32, 60-479 Poznań, Poland; (M.S.); (R.S.)
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Spiliopoulou M, Karavassili F, Triandafillidis DP, Valmas A, Fili S, Kosinas C, Barlos K, Barlos KK, Morin M, Reinle-Schmitt ML, Gozzo F, Margiolaki I. New perspectives in macromolecular powder diffraction using single-photon-counting strip detectors: high-resolution structure of the pharmaceutical peptide octreotide. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA A-FOUNDATION AND ADVANCES 2021; 77:186-195. [PMID: 33944797 DOI: 10.1107/s2053273321001698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Advances in instrumentation, as well as the development of powerful crystallographic software have significantly facilitated the collection of high-resolution diffraction data and have made X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) particularly useful for the extraction of structural information; this is true even for complex molecules, especially when combined with synchrotron radiation. In this study, in-line with past instrumental profile studies, an improved data collection strategy exploiting the MYTHEN II detector system together with significant beam focusing and tailored data collection options was introduced and optimized for protein samples at the Material Science beamline at the Swiss Light Source. Polycrystalline precipitates of octreotide, a somatostatin analog of particular pharmaceutical interest, were examined with this novel approach. XRPD experiments resulted in high angular and d-spacing (1.87 Å) resolution data, from which electron-density maps of enhanced quality were extracted, revealing the molecule's structural properties. Since microcrystalline precipitates represent a viable alternative for administration of therapeutic macromolecules, XRPD has been acknowledged as the most applicable tool for examining a wide spectrum of physicochemical properties of such materials and performing studies ranging from phase identification to complete structural characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Spiliopoulou
- Department of Biology, Section of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Patras, Patras, GR-26500, Greece
| | - Fotini Karavassili
- Department of Biology, Section of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Patras, Patras, GR-26500, Greece
| | | | - Alexandros Valmas
- Department of Biology, Section of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Patras, Patras, GR-26500, Greece
| | - Stavroula Fili
- Department of Biology, Section of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Patras, Patras, GR-26500, Greece
| | - Christos Kosinas
- Department of Biology, Section of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Patras, Patras, GR-26500, Greece
| | | | | | - Mickael Morin
- Excelsus Structural Solutions (Swiss) AG, Park Innovaare, Villigen, 5234, Switzerland
| | | | - Fabia Gozzo
- Excelsus Structural Solutions (Swiss) AG, Park Innovaare, Villigen, 5234, Switzerland
| | - Irene Margiolaki
- Department of Biology, Section of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Patras, Patras, GR-26500, Greece
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7
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Triandafillidis DP, Parthenios N, Spiliopoulou M, Valmas A, Kosinas C, Gozzo F, Reinle-Schmitt M, Beckers D, Degen T, Pop M, Fitch AN, Wollenhaupt J, Weiss MS, Karavassili F, Margiolaki I. Insulin polymorphism induced by two polyphenols: new crystal forms and advances in macromolecular powder diffraction. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2020; 76:1065-1079. [DOI: 10.1107/s205979832001195x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
This study focuses on the polymorphism of human insulin (HI) upon the binding of the phenolic derivativesp-coumaric acid ortrans-resveratrol over a wide pH range. The determination of the structural behaviour of HI via X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) is reported. Four distinct polymorphs were identified, two of which have not been reported previously. The intermediate phase transitions are discussed. One of the novel monoclinic polymorphs displays the highest molecular packing among insulin polymorphs of the same space group to date; its structure was elucidated by SCXRD. XRPD data collection was performed using a variety of instrumental setups and a systematic comparison of the acquired data is presented. A laboratory diffractometer was used for screening prior to high-resolution XRPD data collection on the ID22 beamline at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. Additional measurements for the most representative samples were performed on the X04SA beamline at the Swiss Light Source (SLS) using the MYTHEN II detector, which allowed the detection of minor previously untraceable impurities and dramatically improved thed-spacing resolution even for poorly diffracting samples.
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8
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Lahey-Rudolph JM, Schönherr R, Jeffries CM, Blanchet CE, Boger J, Ferreira Ramos AS, Riekehr WM, Triandafillidis DP, Valmas A, Margiolaki I, Svergun D, Redecke L. Rapid screening of in cellulo grown protein crystals via a small-angle X-ray scattering/X-ray powder diffraction synergistic approach. J Appl Crystallogr 2020; 53:1169-1180. [PMID: 33117106 PMCID: PMC7534541 DOI: 10.1107/s1600576720010687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Crystallization of recombinant proteins in living cells is an exciting new approach for structural biology that provides an alternative to the time-consuming optimization of protein purification and extensive crystal screening steps. Exploiting the potential of this approach requires a more detailed understanding of the cellular processes involved and versatile screening strategies for crystals in a cell culture. Particularly if the target protein forms crystalline structures of unknown morphology only in a small fraction of cells, their detection by applying standard visualization techniques can be time consuming and difficult owing to the environmental challenges imposed by the living cells. In this study, a high-brilliance and low-background bioSAXS beamline is employed for rapid and sensitive detection of protein microcrystals grown within insect cells. On the basis of the presence of Bragg peaks in the recorded small-angle X-ray scattering profiles, it is possible to assess within seconds whether a cell culture contains microcrystals, even in a small percentage of cells. Since such information cannot be obtained by other established detection methods in this time frame, this screening approach has the potential to overcome one of the bottlenecks of intracellular crystal detection. Moreover, the association of the Bragg peak positions in the scattering curves with the unit-cell composition of the protein crystals raises the possibility of investigating the impact of environmental conditions on the crystal structure of the intracellular protein crystals. This information provides valuable insights helping to further understand the in cellulo crystallization process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine Mia Lahey-Rudolph
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Lübeck 23562, Germany
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science (CFEL), Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, Hamburg 22607, Germany
| | - Robert Schönherr
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Lübeck 23562, Germany
- Photon Science, Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, Hamburg 22607, Germany
| | - Cy M. Jeffries
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Hamburg Outstation, c/o DESY, Notkestrasse 85, Hamburg 22607, Germany
| | - Clément E. Blanchet
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Hamburg Outstation, c/o DESY, Notkestrasse 85, Hamburg 22607, Germany
| | - Juliane Boger
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Lübeck 23562, Germany
| | | | - Winnie Maria Riekehr
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Lübeck 23562, Germany
| | | | - Alexandros Valmas
- Department of Biology, Section of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Patras, Patras GR-26500, Greece
| | - Irene Margiolaki
- Department of Biology, Section of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Patras, Patras GR-26500, Greece
| | - Dmitri Svergun
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Hamburg Outstation, c/o DESY, Notkestrasse 85, Hamburg 22607, Germany
| | - Lars Redecke
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Lübeck 23562, Germany
- Photon Science, Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, Hamburg 22607, Germany
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Karavassili F, Valmas A, Dimarogona M, Giannopoulou AE, Fili S, Norrman M, Schluckebier G, Beckers D, Fitch AN, Margiolaki I. Exploring the complex map of insulin polymorphism: a novel crystalline form in the presence ofm-cresol. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2020; 76:366-374. [DOI: 10.1107/s2059798320002545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
In this study, the first crystal structure of a novel crystal form of human insulin bound tometa-cresol in an acidic environment is reported. The combination of single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction crystallography led to the detection of a previously unknown monoclinic phase (P21). The structure was identified from the powder patterns and was solved using single-crystal diffraction data at 2.2 Å resolution. The unit-cell parameters at pH 6.1 area= 47.66,b = 70.36,c = 84.75 Å, β = 105.21°. The structure consists of two insulin hexamers per asymmetric unit. The potential use of this insulin form in microcrystalline drugs is discussed.
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Protein X-ray Crystallography and Drug Discovery. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25051030. [PMID: 32106588 PMCID: PMC7179213 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25051030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
With the advent of structural biology in the drug discovery process, medicinal chemists gained the opportunity to use detailed structural information in order to progress screening hits into leads or drug candidates. X-ray crystallography has proven to be an invaluable tool in this respect, as it is able to provide exquisitely comprehensive structural information about the interaction of a ligand with a pharmacological target. As fragment-based drug discovery emerged in the recent years, X-ray crystallography has also become a powerful screening technology, able to provide structural information on complexes involving low-molecular weight compounds, despite weak binding affinities. Given the low numbers of compounds needed in a fragment library, compared to the hundreds of thousand usually present in drug-like compound libraries, it now becomes feasible to screen a whole fragment library using X-ray crystallography, providing a wealth of structural details that will fuel the fragment to drug process. Here, we review theoretical and practical aspects as well as the pros and cons of using X-ray crystallography in the drug discovery process.
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