Combined strategies for the discovery of ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists

This review summarizes the results of our research group engaged in the development of new glutamate receptor ligands. Chemical and biological studies of several active molecules have been carried out. In particular, extensive work has addressed the identification of antagonists of AMPA and NMDA receptor subtypes using a combination of computational strategies. Innovative synthetic pathways have been used and small libraries of new molecules prepared. In vitro and in vivo tests were performed, and some compounds proved to be highly potent anticonvulsant and neuroprotective agents.