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Innovations in Neuropharmacology for Neurodegenerative Diseases

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Neurobiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 560

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Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Siena School of Medicine, 53100 Siena, Italy
Interests: pharmacological treatment of mood; anxiety; psychotic disorders
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, represent some of the most significant challenges currently facing modern medicine. These conditions are typified by progressive neuronal loss, frequently accompanied by debilitating cognitive, motor, and behavioral symptoms, which have a markedly deleterious impact on the quality of life of patients. Despite extensive research, effective treatments remain elusive, underscoring the urgent need for innovative neuropharmacological strategies.

The Special Issue, entitled "Innovations in Neuropharmacology for Neurodegenerative Diseases", aims to examine the latest advances and conceptual shifts in the treatment and comprehension of these intricate disorders. This collection aims to provide a comprehensive platform for the latest developments in drug discovery, molecular mechanisms, and translational approaches that address both the symptoms and underlying pathophysiology of neurodegeneration.

The following areas will be given particular attention, although this list is not exhaustive:

  • Novel Therapeutics: The development of small molecules, biologics, gene therapies, and personalized medicine approaches targeting neurodegenerative pathways represents a significant area of research.
  • Mechanistic Insights: The objective is to elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying neuronal death, including oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, protein aggregation, neuroinflammation, and impaired autophagy.
  • Biomarkers and Diagnostics: The development of novel biomarkers for the early diagnosis, disease progression, and therapeutic monitoring of various diseases.
  • Drug Delivery Systems: Advances in nanotechnology, strategies for enhancing blood-brain barrier permeability, and other novel drug delivery methods.
  • Repurposing and Polypharmacy: An investigation into the potential of existing pharmaceuticals for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, coupled with the formulation of innovative combination therapies.

This theme is aligned with current trends and challenges in the field of molecular sciences, with a particular emphasis on the integration of systems biology, bioinformatics, and high-throughput screening in the context of neuropharmacology. As research increasingly focuses on the personalization of therapy and disease-modifying strategies, this issue also seeks to address unmet clinical needs and bridge the gap between basic science and clinical application.

We welcome contributions from a range of perspectives, including experimental studies, clinical trials, meta-analyses, and reviews. Submissions employing innovative methodologies, such as omics technologies, organoids, and artificial intelligence-driven drug discovery, are strongly encouraged. Integrated approaches that draw upon insights from multiple disciplines, including pharmacology, neuroscience, molecular biology, and computational sciences, are strongly encouraged.

It is our intention that this Special Issue will serve to stimulate dialogue and collaboration among researchers, clinicians, and industry leaders, thereby facilitating the advancement of the field towards the development of more effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.

Prof. Dr. Andrea Fagiolini
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • neurodegenerative diseases
  • neuropharmacology
  • alzheimer's disease
  • parkinson's disease
  • gene therapy
  • drug delivery systems
  • molecular mechanisms
  • biomarkers in neurodegeneration
  • neuroinflammation
  • personalized medicine

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

36 pages, 4378 KiB  
Review
Corneal Sensory Receptors and Pharmacological Therapies to Modulate Ocular Pain
by Ryan Park, Samantha Spritz, Anne Y. Zeng, Rohith Erukulla, Deneb Zavala, Tasha Merchant, Andres Gascon, Rebecca Jung, Bianca Bigit, Dimitri T. Azar, Jin-Hong Chang, Elmira Jalilian, Ali R. Djalilian, Victor H. Guaiquil and Mark I. Rosenblatt
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(10), 4663; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26104663 - 13 May 2025
Viewed by 346
Abstract
Nociceptors respond to noxious stimuli and transmit pain signals to the central nervous system. In the cornea, the nociceptors located in the most external layer provide a myriad of sensation modalities. Damage to these corneal nerve fibers can induce neuropathic pain. In response, [...] Read more.
Nociceptors respond to noxious stimuli and transmit pain signals to the central nervous system. In the cornea, the nociceptors located in the most external layer provide a myriad of sensation modalities. Damage to these corneal nerve fibers can induce neuropathic pain. In response, corneal nerves become sensitized to previously non-noxious stimuli. Assessing corneal pain origin is a complex ophthalmic challenge due to variations in its causes and manifestations. Current FDA-approved therapies for corneal nociceptive pain, such as acetaminophen and NSAIDs, provide only broad-acting relief with unwanted side effects, highlighting the need for precision medicine for corneal nociceptive pain. A few targeted treatments, including perfluorohexyloctane (F6H8) eye drops and Optive Plus (TRPV1 antagonist), are FDA-approved, while others are in preclinical development. Treatments that target signaling pathways related to neurotrophic factors, such as nerve growth factors and ion channels, such as the transient receptor potential (TRP) family or tropomyosin receptor kinase A, may provide a potential combinatory therapeutic approach. This review describes the roles of nociceptors in corneal pain. In addition, it evaluates molecules within nociceptor signaling pathways for their potential to serve as targets for efficient therapeutic strategies for corneal nociceptive pain aimed at modulating neurotrophic factors and nociceptive channel sensitivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Neuropharmacology for Neurodegenerative Diseases)
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