Medicinal chemistry research, future

Due to its psychotropic properties, Cannabis sativa was one of the first plants to be used by man, both in social-religious rites and in medicine [1-3]. In ancient times, the distinction between use in religious ceremonies and medical use was blurred. Later, in most countries, the ceremonial rites associated with Cannabis were forgotten or discarded, but the medical use continued for many centuries. In various parts of the world, Cannabis was used in a very wide range of medical conditions. This is not surprising, as the placebo effects of drugs with psychotropic action are particularly strong. However, many of the actions produced by Cannabis are undoubtedly distinct from the placebo effect and in recent years some have been confirmed in animals and in man. In the present survey, we shall try to compare past use with modem data, to present an overview of modem use and developments and to predict future pathways in medicinal chemistry research in this area. 

In this decade, all chemistry research fields have adopted and/or applied the dendrimers and/or dendrimer methodologies. The table of contents of this series. Topics in Current Chemistry Dendrimers Volumes I-IV, clearly indicates this situation [1-4], that is, the concept of dendritic compounds has already been introduced in host-guest and/or supramolecular chemistry (Vol. I/Chap. 2, Vol. Il/Chaps. 3,4, Vol. IV/Chap. 3), chiral chemistry (Vol. I/Chap. 4), electrochemistry (Vol. I/Chap. 6, Vol. Ill/Chap. 3), heteroatom and/or organometalHc chemistries (Vol. I/Chap. 3, Vol. Il/Chaps. 2,5, and Vol. IV/Chap. 4), and carbohydrate chemistry (Vol. IV/Chap. 6), as well as applied in the field of medicine (Vol. Il/Chap. 6) and nanoscience (Vol. Ill/Chap. 4). The dendrimer methodology is expected to be used in future novel science as a conventional chemistry concept. 

Contents Introduction. - Experimental Techniques Production of Energetic Atoms. Radiochemical Separation Techniques. Special Physical Techniques. - Characteristics of Hot Atom Reactions Gas Phase Hot Atom Reactions. Liquid Phase Hot Atom Reactions. Solid Phase Hot Atom Reactions. - Applications of Hot Atom Chemistry and Related Topics Applications in Inorganic, Analytical and Geochemistry. Applications in Physical Chemistry. Applications in Biochemistry and Nuclear Medicine. Hot Atom Chemistry in Energy-Related Research. Current Topics Related to Hot Atom Chemistry and Future Scope. - Subject Index. 

Accordingly, I believe that it is the right time for us to review the recent advances and envision the new and exciting developments in the future. This book has a focus on the unique and significant roles that fluorine plays in medicinal chemistry and chemical biology, but also covers new and efficient synthetic methods for medicinal chemistry, 18F PET, and expanding applications of 19F NMR spectroscopy to biomedical research. 

The events of the past year have given us much for reflection on the future of medicinal chemistry and drug research. While the print of the New Drug Regulations has scarcely dried, it is clear that our way of life will be different. While chemists will continue to sire new concepts and objectives... 

On my part, I am convinced that the future of medicinal chemistry and drug research has never been brighter. We can now think less of quantity but more of quality with concomitant development of greater scientific acumen and judgment and with greater personal satisfaction from contributions which are real. 

However, there are areas of concern for the future of synthetic drug research. One comes from the discipline that represented the foundation of medicinal chemistry—namely organic chemistry. This discipline is moving steadily away from the area of synthesis toward mechanistically oriented horizons. Medicinal chemistry will have to take over and continue to refine the art of organic synthesis. 

Future research endeavors wiU continue in seven-membered heterocycles toward new methods for synthesis of bioactive natural products, apphcation of the mono and diheteroatom systems in medicinal chemistry, and developing new more environment-friendly and economically viable processes for manufacturing drugs. The emerging interest in new metal (e.g., gold, palladium, rhodium, copper, and nickel)-catalyzed processes is expected to continue. 

The objectives of the Metals in Medicine Program Announcement (PA-01-071 now reissued as PA-05-001) are i) identification of new targets for drug discovery ii) development of new in vitro and in vivo diagnostics iii) elucidation of new basic concepts that will enable future therapeutics development dnd iv) stimulation of collaborations between inorganic chemists and medical scientists to ultimately increase flie inqiact of bioinorganic chemistry research on health. 

The series Topics in Current Chemistry presents critical reviews of the present and future trends in modem chemical research. The scope includes all areas of chemical science, including the interfaces with related disciphnes such as biology, medicine, and materials science. 

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