AREAS COVERED: In this review, we delve into utilization of nanoparticular platforms to enhance the delivery of repurposed drugs for treatment of AD. Firstly, the review begins with the elucidation of intricate pathology underpinning AD, subsequently followed by rationale behind drug repurposing in AD. Covered are explorations of nanoparticle-based repurposing of drugs in AD, highlighting their clinical implication. Further, the associated challenges and probable future perspective are delineated.
EXPERT OPINION: The article has highlighted that extensive research has been carried out on the delivery of repurposed nanomedicines against AD. However, there is a need for advanced and long-term research including clinical trials required to shed light upon their safety and toxicity profile. Furthermore, their scalability in pharmaceutical set-up should also be validated.
METHODS: As a preliminary step, a molecular docking study was performed to investigate the potency of seventy-one compounds from four classes of inhibitors. The molecular characteristics of the best-performing five compounds were predicted by estimating the drug-likeness and drug score. Molecular dynamics simulations (MD) over 100 ns were performed to inspect the relative stability of the best compound within the Omicron receptor-binding site.
RESULTS: The current findings point out the crucial roles of Q493R, G496S, Q498R, N501Y, and Y505H in the RBD region of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron. Raltegravir, hesperidin, pyronaridine, and difloxacin achieved the highest drug scores compared with the other compounds in the four classes, with values of 81%, 57%, 18%, and 71%, respectively. The calculated results showed that raltegravir and hesperidin had high binding affinities and stabilities to Omicron with ΔGbinding of - 75.7304 ± 0.98324 and - 42.693536 ± 0.979056 kJ/mol, respectively. Further clinical studies should be performed for the two best compounds from this study.