Selenization of Small Molecule Drugs: A New Player on the Board

Abstract

There is an urgent need to develop safer and more effective modalities for the treatment of a wide range of pathologies due to the increasing rates of drug resistance, undesired side effects, poor clinical outcomes, etc. Throughout the years, selenium (Se) has attracted a great deal of attention due to its important role in human health. Besides, a growing body of work has unveiled that the inclusion of Se motifs into a great number of molecules is a promising strategy for obtaining novel therapeutic agents. In the current Perspective, we have gathered the most recent literature related to the incorporation of different Se moieties into the scaffolds of a wide range of known drugs and their feasible pharmaceutical applications. In addition, we highlight different representative examples as well as provide our perspective on Se drugs and the possible future directions, promises, opportunities, and challenges of this ground-breaking area of research. ■ SIGNIFICANCE • Significance: The development of novel compounds for the treatment of numerous pathologies has become a priority due to the lack of effective therapeutic options. • Impact: This work highlights the potential of incorporating Se moieties into the scaffold of several drugs to develop novel safer bioactive compounds. • Innovation: This Perspective discusses the development of selenoderivatives of a wide array of drugs and their biological applications and proposes novel avenues to continue exploring this outstanding research area.