Your browser does not fully support modern features. Please upgrade for a smoother experience.
Submitted Successfully!
Thank you for your contribution! You can also upload a video entry or images related to this topic. For video creation, please contact our Academic Video Service.
Version Summary Created by Modification Content Size Created at Operation
1 Yu Peng -- 164 2026-10-25 14:47:56 |
2 delete taxonomy path Yu Peng -9 word(s) 155 2026-10-25 14:48:09 |

Video Upload Options

We provide professional Academic Video Service to translate complex research into visually appealing presentations. Would you like to try it?
Cite
If you have any further questions, please contact Encyclopedia Editorial Office.
Peng, Y. Bioisosteric Drug Design. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/61469 (accessed on 12 November 2026).
Peng Y. Bioisosteric Drug Design. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/61469. Accessed November 12, 2026.
Peng, Yu. "Bioisosteric Drug Design" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/61469 (accessed November 12, 2026).
Peng, Y. (2026, October 25). Bioisosteric Drug Design. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/61469
Peng, Yu. "Bioisosteric Drug Design." Encyclopedia. Web. 25 October, 2026.

Bioisosteric Drug Design

Edit

Bioisosteric drug design is the replacement of an atom, functional group, or molecular fragment with another moiety selected to reproduce relevant steric, electronic, or interaction properties in a bioactive molecule. The replacement preserves selected features of molecular recognition while changing properties such as ionization, polarity, conformational preference, or susceptibility to metabolism. Bioisosteric relationships extend beyond atoms of similar valence and include replacements with substantially different chemical connectivity [1]. Saturated carbon frameworks can reproduce the spatial arrangement of substituents on an aromatic ring while changing three-dimensional shape and physicochemical behaviour [2]. For example, appropriately substituted bicyclo[3.1.1]heptanes can approximate the substituent vectors of meta-substituted benzene rings [3]. Functional group replacements can also preserve hydrogen bonding patterns; squaramides offer geometries and donor–acceptor features relevant to several amide-related groups [4]. Equivalence is therefore specific to the molecular setting and the property being preserved, rather than an assertion that two fragments have identical biological effects [1][2].

bioisosteres molecular recognition scaffold replacement substituent geometry
Help expand this entry Share your expertise by adding detailed content and references to improve this entry.
Add content

References

  1. George A. Patani; Edmond J. LaVoie; Bioisosterism: A Rational Approach in Drug Design. Chem. Rev. 1996, 96, 3147-3176. [CrossRef]
  2. Jet Tsien; Chao Hu; Rohan R. Merchant; Tian Qin; Three-dimensional saturated C(sp3)-rich bioisosteres for benzene. Nat. Rev. Chem. 2024, 8, 605-627. [CrossRef]
  3. Nils Frank; Jeremy Nugent; Bethany R. Shire; Helena D. Pickford; Patrick Rabe; Alistair J. Sterling; Tryfon Zarganes-Tzitzikas; Thomas Grimes; Amber L. Thompson; Russell C. Smith; Christopher J. Schofield; Paul E. Brennan; Fernanda Duarte; Edward A. Anderson; Synthesis of meta-substituted arene bioisosteres from [3.1.1]propellane. Nature 2022, 611, 721-726. [CrossRef]
  4. Kylie A. Agnew-Francis; Craig M. Williams; Squaramides as Bioisosteres in Contemporary Drug Design. Chem. Rev. 2020, 120, 11616-11650. [CrossRef]
More
Upload a video for this entry
Information
Contributor MDPI registered users' name will be linked to their SciProfiles pages. To register with us, please refer to https://encyclopedia.pub/register : Yu Peng
View Times: 13
Revisions: 2 times (View History)
Update Date: 25 Oct 2026
Notice
You are not a member of the advisory board for this topic. If you want to update advisory board member profile, please contact office@encyclopedia.pub.
OK
Confirm
Only members of the Encyclopedia advisory board for this topic are allowed to note entries. Would you like to become an advisory board member of the Encyclopedia?
Yes
No
${ textCharacter }/${ maxCharacter }
Submit
Cancel
There is no comment~
${ textCharacter }/${ maxCharacter }
Submit
Cancel
${ selectedItem.replyTextCharacter }/${ selectedItem.replyMaxCharacter }
Submit
Cancel
Confirm
Are you sure to Delete?
Yes No
Write an Entry