The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is comprised of brain microvascular endothelial central nervous system (CNS) cells, which communicate with other CNS cells (astrocytes, pericytes) and behave according to the state of the CNS, by responding against pathological environments and modulating disease progression. The BBB plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis in the CNS by maintaining restricted transport of toxic or harmful molecules, transport of nutrients, and removal of metabolites from the brain. Neurological disorders, such as NeuroHIV, cerebral stroke, brain tumors, and other neurodegenerative diseases increase the permeability of the BBB. While on the other hand, semipermeable nature of BBB restricts the movement of bigger molecules i.e. drugs or proteins (>500 kDa) across it, leading to minimal bioavailability of drugs in the CNS. This poses the most significant shortcoming in the development of therapeutics for CNS neurodegenerative disorders. Although the complexity of the BBB (dynamic and adaptable barrier) affects approaches of CNS drug delivery and promotes disease progression, understanding the composition and functions of BBB provides a platform for novel innovative approaches towards drug delivery to CNS. The methodical and scientific interests in the physiology and pathology of the BBB led to the development and the advancement of numerous in vitro models of the BBB. This review discusses the fundamentals of BBB structure, permeation mechanisms, an overview of all the different in-vitro BBB models with their advantages and disadvantages, and rationale of selecting penetration prediction methods towards the critical role in the development of the CNS therapeutics.

Farnesyl Transferase is a hetero-dimer transferase that targets ras proteins and attaches a farnesyl group to it. This ras protein, on localization to the cell membrane has the ability to induce activation of various growth and proliferation pathways of the cell. Over-activation of mutated ras protein may lead to development of cancer. Farnesyl transferase catalyzes the initial step in the post-translational modification of normal as well as mutated ras thus facilitating its tethering to the cell membrane. Inhibition of farnseyl transferase is the main step in restricting the activity of mutant ras protein. Thus the above enzyme has emerged as a novel target for anti-cancer agents. Here we review the role of farnesyl transferase in tumerogenesis and various compound of synthetic and natural origin acting as farnesyl transferase inhibitors as potential anti-cancer agents.

This review article explores the fundamental role of receptor targeting in overcoming drug resistance in cancer therapy, an area of critical concern given the persistently high rates of cancer morbidity and mortality globally. We highlight how receptor biology intersects with the development of therapeutic resistance with a specific focus on anti-angiogenic agents, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and monoclonal antibodies, which directly or indirectly influence receptor pathways. We also explore how other receptor tyrosine kinases can initially suppress tumor growth, yet often lead to resistance, underscoring the need for novel combinatorial approaches that incorporate advanced receptor modulation techniques. Further, the review delves into the mechanisms by which modulation of the tumor microenvironment and immune system via receptor pathways can overcome resistance to traditional immunotherapies. Additionally, emerging technologies in receptor-targeted nanomedicine are also highlighted, showcasing their potential to revolutionize drug delivery and improve therapeutic outcomes by targeting specific receptor interactions. Ultimately, this review calls for a deeper understanding of receptor dynamics to develop more precise interventions, including insights from various healthcare settings that can prevent or circumvent drug resistance, thus enhancing patient outcomes in oncology.

High throughput virtual screening (HTVS) has been proved a successful tool for getting LEADs in drug design and discovery. In an attempt to design new Dengue protease inhibitors, we performed HTVS using Zinc13 database containing 13,195,609 drug-like molecules. ZINC42678127 was identified as potential HIT against Dengue protease. It’s shape and electrostatic complimentary was found to be 0.608 and 0.078, respectively. Qikprop analysis of the compound complied with the Rule of Five (Ro5) and other drug- likeliness properties. Binding mode analysis of docked conformer of ZINC42678127, displayed favorable interaction with the active site residues of DENV protease. The identified HIT has a potential to become a LEAD against Dengue protease.