1. New materials and technologies for pharmaceutical analysis
2. Discovery of original multi-target drugs and lead compounds
Representative Research Achievements
(1) The KRASG12D mutation is one of the most lethal driving factors for the development of lung cancer. Over the past three decades, KRASG12D has been considered an “undruggable” target. Nowadays, no highly potent KRASG12D-target drugs for lung cancer treatment are available on the market. In 2022, our research team published the latest research results entitled High Potential, Selective, Biostable, and Cell Permeable Cyclic D-Peptide for Dual Targeting Therapy of Lung Cancer in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (IF=16.383). This research has attracted widespread attention, and NKTP-3 is expected to solve the situation of no available medicines for the treatment of KRASG12D mutant lung cancer patients with its advantages of high efficiency, selectivity, stability, and permeability. Moreover, NKTP-3 also can be a reference example for the development of KRASG12D-target drugs. (Review comments of JACS: The study is very smart and results clearcut.).
(2) Our research team published the latest research results entitled Discovery of a Dual Tubulin and Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1 Inhibitor by Structure-Based Pharmacophore Modeling, Virtual Screening, Molecular Docking, and Biological Evaluation in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (IF=8.039). In this study, the first tubulin/PARP-1 dual-target lead compound TP-3 with therapeutic prospects for breast cancer was successfully discovered.
(3) Our research team published the latest research results entitled A Redox-Triggered Bispecific Supramolecular Nanomedicine Based on Peptide Self-Assembly for High-Efficacy and Low-Toxic Cancer Therapy in the Advanced Functional Materials (IF=19.924). In this study, the first PLK1/PLK4 dual-target inhibitor C-1 with therapeutic prospects for cervical cancer was successfully discovered. This research has attracted widespread attention and the paper has been widely cited, such as the team of Gooding, J. Justin (academician of the Australian Academy of Sciences), the team of Yan Xuehai (National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars), the team of Ling Daishun (National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars), and the team of Gao Yuan (National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars). Among them, in a paper published in Chemical Society Reviews (IF=60.615), Good, J. Justin's team cite the research results, and the high efficacy and low toxicity of PLK1/PLK4 dual-target inhibitor C-1 in the treatment of cervical cancer was highly recognized.
1. Yunjiang Zhou, Yunting Zou, Mei Yang, Shuang Mei, Xiaohao Liu, Huiyun Han, Chang-Dong Zhang, Miao-Miao Niu. Highly Potent, Selective, Biostable, and Cell-Permeable Cyclic D-Peptide for Dual-Targeting Therapy of Lung Cancer. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2022, 144 (16): 7117-7128. (IF=16.383)
2. Kaicheng Tang, Xiaoyou Wang, Miao-Miao Niu, Xinyu Wang, Guanghua Zhou, Jinjin Shi, Yang Yu, Zhangbao Chen, Chong Li*. Augmenting the Precise Targeting of Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) and AMP-Based Drug Delivery via Affinity-Filtering Strategy. Advanced Functional Materials 2022, 32 (17): 2111344. (IF=18.808)
3. Lufeng Zheng, Ren Ren, Xiaolian Sun, Yunting Zou, Yiru Shi, Bin Di, Miao-Miao Niu. Discovery of a Dual Tubulin and Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1 Inhibitor by Structure-Based Pharmacophore Modeling, Virtual Screening, Molecular Docking, and Biological Evaluation. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2021, 64 (21): 15702-15715. (IF=8.039)
4. Yunjiang Zhou, Yaxin Chen, Yingying Tan, Rong Hu, Miao-Miao Niu. An NRP1/MDM2-Targeted D-Peptide Supramolecular Nanomedicine for High-Efficacy and Low-Toxic Liver Cancer Therapy. Advanced Healthcare Materials 2021, 10 (9): 2002197. (IF=11.092)
5. Yunjiang Zhou, Yaxin Chen, Xing Huang, Yingying Tan, Rong Hu, Chong Li, Miao-Miao Niu. A Supramolecular Nanomedicine Based on Bendamustine and MDM2-Targeted D-Peptide Inhibitor for Breast Cancer Therapy. Advanced Healthcare Materials 2021, 10 (21): 2100980. (IF=11.092)
6. Liting Cheng, Miao-Miao Niu, Tong Yan, Zhongyi Ma, Kexin Huang, Ling Yang, Xin Zhong, Chong Li. Bioresponsive Micro-to-Nano Albumin-Based Systems for Targeted Drug Delivery against Complex Fungal Infections. Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2021, 11 (10): 3220-3230. (IF=14.903)
7. Da-Song Yang, Yin-He Yang, Yunjiang Zhou, Li-Li Yu, Rui-Han Wang, Bin Di, Miao-Miao Niu. A Redox-Triggered Bispecific Supramolecular Nanomedicine Based on Peptide Self-Assembly for High-Efficacy and Low-Toxic Cancer Therapy. Advanced Functional Materials 2020, 30 (4): 1904969. (IF= 19.924)
8. Fang Yan, Guangmei Liu, Tingting Chen, Xiaochen Fu, Miao-Miao Niu. Structure-Based Virtual Screening and Biological Evaluation of Peptide Inhibitors for Polo-Box Domain. Molecules 2019, 25(1): 107. (IF: 3.267)
9. Yunjiang Zhou, Shi Tang, Tingting Chen, Miao-Miao Niu. Structure-Based Pharmacophore Modeling, Virtual Screening, Molecular Docking and Biological Evaluation for Identification of Potential Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1 (PARP-1) Inhibitors. Molecules 2019, 24(23): 4258. (IF: 3.267)
10. Yunjiang Zhou, Bin Di, Miao-Miao Niu. Structure-Based Pharmacophore Design and Virtual Screening for Novel Tubulin Inhibitors with Potential Anticancer Activity. Molecules 2019, 24(17): 3181. (IF: 3.267)
