Introduction: Although the medicinal use of boron-containing compounds (BCCs) had long been limited to antiseptics, in the last few decades, these compounds have been used as antibiotics or chemotherapeutic agents. In the last few years, boron has been included in the moieties of many known drugs to improve their capacity in binding to their respective target receptors.
Areas covered: The current review focuses on research and patent literature of the last decade related to the development of BCCs as preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic tools. It explores the possible mechanisms of action of these compounds as well as the advantageous features of their structure and chemico-pharmacological properties.
Expert opinion: Although uncertainties exist about the mechanism of action of BCCs, increasing evidence about their toxicological profile strongly suggests that many can be safely administered to humans. Even stronger evidence exists regarding the capacity of BCCs to reach multiple targets that are involved in the treatment of common diseases. It seems fair to say that some BCCs will reach the market for medicinal use in the near future, not only for targeting microbial or neoplastic systems but also for acting on cell-signaling processes involved in many other disorders.