Comprehensive Insights into Medicinal Research on Imidazole-Based Supramolecular Complexes

The electron-rich five-membered aromatic aza-heterocyclic imidazole, which contains two nitrogen atoms, is an important functional fragment widely present in a large number of biomolecules and medicinal drugs; its unique structure is beneficial to easily bind with various inorganic or organic ions and molecules through noncovalent interactions to form a variety of supramolecular complexes with broad medicinal potential, which is being paid an increasing amount of attention regarding more and more contributions to imidazole-based supramolecular complexes for possible medicinal application. This work gives systematical and comprehensive insights into medicinal research on imidazole-based supramolecular complexes, including anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and anti-inflammatory aspects as well as ion receptors, imaging agents, and pathologic probes. The new trend of the foreseeable research in the near future toward imidazole-based supramolecular medicinal chemistry is also prospected. It is hoped that this work provides beneficial help for the rational design of imidazole-based drug molecules and supramolecular medicinal agents and more effective diagnostic agents and pathological probes.

Automated summary

The electron-rich five-membered aromatic aza-heterocyclic imidazole, which contains two nitrogen atoms, is widely present in biomolecules and medicinal drugs. Its unique structure allows it to easily bind with various ions and molecules to form supramolecular complexes with medicinal potential. This research provides insights into medicinal applications of imidazole-based supramolecular complexes, including their role in anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and anti-inflammatory activities, as well as ion receptors, imaging agents, and pathologic probes. The study also explores the future research trends in imidazole-based supramolecular medicinal chemistry. The hope is that this work will contribute to the rational design of imidazole-based drug molecules, supramolecular medicinal agents, diagnostic agents, and pathological probes.