QUANTUM PHARMACOLOGY BEYOND CLASSICAL BOUNDARIES: REFRAMING DRUG–BIOMOLECULE INTERACTIONS THROUGH WAVEFUNCTION DYNAMICS AND ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE THEORY

The progressive convergence of quantum mechanics and pharmacological sciences has initiated a paradigm shift in the conceptualization of drug–biomolecule interactions, transitioning from classical lock-and-key models toward electronically resolved, probabilistic frameworks. Quantum mechanics, originally developed to describe subatomic phenomena, now plays a pivotal role in elucidating molecular recognition, reaction kinetics, and binding energetics at a level unattainable by classical approaches. This review synthesizes contemporary developments in quantum pharmacology, emphasizing the application of wavefunction-based methods, density functional theory (DFT), and hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) models in drug discovery and development. The article critically examines how quantum phenomena—including tunneling, electron delocalization, and orbital hybridization—govern pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic behavior. Furthermore, it explores translational implications across enzymology, receptor pharmacology, and computational drug design, while addressing methodological constraints and future trajectories involving quantum computing and AI-integrated quantum simulations. The review advances the thesis that quantum-informed pharmacology is not merely an enhancement but a necessary evolution toward mechanistically precise, predictive, and personalized therapeutics.

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