Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacological Activities of Opioid Drugs
A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Medicinal Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 March 2022) | Viewed by 36965
Special Issue Editors
Interests: opioids; brain systems; autonomic physiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The opioid crisis is escalating due to many factors accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this Special Issue, we invite authors to contribute original articles focusing on research work in humans and experimental animals that (1) defines which physiological systems driving cardiorespiratory function are modulated/compromised by opioids and/or their metabolites—how do opioids affect breathing, airway patency, arterial blood gas chemistry and gas exchange in the lungs, (2) defines the receptor (opioid, non-opioid) systems and intracellular signaling pathways by which opioids affect cardiorespiratory systems, (3) describes how drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine and diazepam influence the efficacy of opioids, and (4) describes novel therapeutic strategies to prevent/reverse opioid-induced cardiorespiratory collapse involving new drug entities or the repurposing existing drugs. Studies describing the influence of sex, genetics and age in all of the above topics are encouraged. Mini reviews/research studies describing the current status/effectiveness of opioid receptor antagonists, such as naloxone against fentanyl and derivatives, alone or in combination with drugs of misuse/abuse, are encouraged. Finally, basic or clinical evidence as to whether the pharmacological effects of opioids are altered as a result of common diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, stroke or infections with viruses such as COVID-19, are most welcome.
Prof. Dr. Stephen Lewis
Dr. Aidan Hampson
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- opioid-induced cardiorespiratory collapse
- fentanyl
- opioid-other drug interactions
- signaling pathways
- novel therapeutic strategies
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