Novel Drug Compositions for Ischemic Stroke: Mechanisms and Clinical Applications

A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmacology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 September 2025 | Viewed by 451

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Interests: neuropharmacology; neuroprotection; cerebral ischemia; stroke; stem cells; pharmacotherapy; neuroscience; nanomedicine

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Interests: neuropharmacology; neuroprotection; cerebral ischemia; stroke; stem cells; pharmacotherapy; neuroscience; nanomedicine

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ischemic stroke is one of the leading causes of disability and mortality, with limited treatment options available for effective recovery. Recent research has focused on developing novel drugs and innovative procedures to address the complexities of ischemic brain injury, aiming to improve patient outcomes. Innovative drug compositions targeting neuroprotection, tissue repair, and enhanced cerebral blood flow have gained significant attention, with strategies ranging from small molecules and biologics to novel drug delivery systems. Key mechanisms under investigation include the modulation of excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, which play pivotal roles in neuronal damage. Moreover, the blood–brain barrier remains a major challenge in drug delivery, but recent advancements in nanotechnology and targeted carriers offer promising solutions. The clinical translation of these therapies is also a focal point, with ongoing preclinical and clinical trials assessing their safety and efficacy.This Special Issue provides a unique platform to cover the mechanisms underlying ischemic stroke and the development of new therapeutic agents designed to intervene at critical stages of the ischemic cascade. By bringing together cutting-edge research on novel drug compositions, we aim at highlighting their potential in transforming ischemic stroke treatment. Investigating both molecular mechanisms and clinical implications, this collection will pave the way for future breakthroughs in stroke therapy and improved patient care.

We look forward to your valuable contributions to advancing stroke therapeutics!

Prof. Dr. Jasenka Mrsic-Pelcic
Dr. Anja Harej Hrkać
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • ischemic stroke
  • novel delivery systems
  • nanomedicine
  • nanotechnology
  • neuroregenerative therapy
  • neurorepair
  • new and emerging treatments
  • pharmacotherapy
  • tissue engineering

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

22 pages, 8985 KiB  
Article
Huanglian Jiedu Decoction Treats Ischemic Stroke by Regulating Pyroptosis: Insights from Multi-Omics and Drug–Target Relationship Analysis
by Yixiao Gu, Zijin Sun, Tao Li and Xia Ding
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(6), 775; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18060775 - 23 May 2025
Viewed by 276
Abstract
Background: Ischemic stroke (IS) is a severe condition with limited therapeutic options. Pyroptosis, a type of programmed cell death linked to inflammation, is closely associated with IS-related damage. Studies suggest inflammation aligns with the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) concept of “fire-heat syndrome”. Huanglian [...] Read more.
Background: Ischemic stroke (IS) is a severe condition with limited therapeutic options. Pyroptosis, a type of programmed cell death linked to inflammation, is closely associated with IS-related damage. Studies suggest inflammation aligns with the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) concept of “fire-heat syndrome”. Huanglian Jiedu Decoction (HLJD), a TCM formula known for clearing heat and purging fire, has shown therapeutic effects on IS, potentially by regulating pyroptosis. Study design: Eight-week-old male mice were divided into six groups: sham operation, model, positive drug, and low-, medium-, and high-dose HLJD groups. After a week of adaptive feeding, mice received respective treatments for five days, followed by modeling on the sixth day, with samples collected 23 h post-perfusion. Analyses included multi-omics, physiology, histopathology, virtual drug screening, target affinity assessment, and molecular biology techniques to measure relevant indicators. Results: HLJD effectively mitigated IS-related damage, maintaining neurological function, reducing ischemic levels, protecting cellular morphology, inhibiting neuronal apoptosis, and preserving blood–brain barrier integrity. Bioinformatics of high-throughput omics data revealed significant activation of pyroptosis and related inflammatory pathways in IS. ScRNA-seq identified neutrophils, macrophages, and microglia as key pyroptotic cell types, suggesting potential therapeutic targets. Network pharmacology and molecular docking identified NLRP3 as a critical target, with 6819 ligand–receptor docking results. SPR molecular fishing, LC-MS, molecular dynamics, and affinity measurements identified small molecules with high affinity for NLRP3. Molecular biology techniques confirmed that HLJD regulates pyroptosis via the classical inflammasome signaling pathway and modulates the inflammatory microenvironment. Conclusions: Following IS, pyroptosis in myeloid cells triggers an inflammatory cascade, leading to neural damage. HLJD may inhibit NLRP3 activity, reducing pyroptosis and associated inflammation, and ultimately mitigating damage. Full article
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