Opioids: Future Dimensions in Drug Development

Call for Papers

Since the discovery of enkephalins, the structure of various endogenous and synthetic opioid peptides has been clarified and opioid receptors identified as μ, δ, κ, and nociceptin/orphanin-FQ ORL-1. Until recently, numerous opioid agonists and antagonists, which bind selectively to opioid receptors, were mainly developed as antipain medication although not without physiological side effects. However, during the course of research, their role has also been greatly expanded. For example, opioids can serve as potential therapeutic drugs for the control of obesity, alcohol, and drug addiction through their interaction with a neural reword network, as well as modulators of homeostatic mechanisms, such as depression, immune system regulation, osteoporosis, and functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

The main focus of this special issue of International Journal of Medicinal Chemistry will be to highlight recent developments with opioid agonists and antagonists and their possible involvement in all aspects of medicinal chemical applications to human physiology. We mainly welcome research articles and review articles. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Development of unique opioid agonists and antagonists
• Structure-activity relationships
• Molecular modeling of ligands and receptors
• Analgesic opioid analogues
• Therapeutic and clinical application of opioid peptides
• Studies with animal models
• Molecular mechanisms of opioid action
• Future strategies for opioid drug development

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijmc/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/ according to the following timetable:

Lead Guest Editor

• Yoshio Okada, Kobe Gakuin University, Akashi 673-0852, Japan

Guest Editors

• Lawrence H. Lazarus, Laboratory of Toxicology and Pharmacology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
• Severo Salvadori, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biotechnology Center, University of Ferrara, 44100 Ferrara, Italy
• Yuko Tsuda, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, Minatojima 1-1-3, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-8586, Japan