10.1016/j.bmcl.2004.01.087
In the research, gabapentin is described as an anticonvulsant agent that has been shown to be effective against neuropathic pain in both animal models and humans. The research aimed to discover novel gabapentin-mimetic compounds to better understand the mechanism of gabapentin's pharmacological actions and develop more effective drugs. The study focused on N-acridin-9-yl-butane-1,4-diamine derivatives, investigating their binding affinity to the a2d subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels. Key chemicals included compound 1 (IC50=220 nM), identified through high-throughput screening, and its enantiomers, with the (S)-enantiomer 2 showing higher binding affinity (IC50=110 nM). The researchers optimized the side chain length and structure, finding that compound 10 (IC50=9 nM) was more potent than gabapentin (IC50=27 nM). They also explored partial saturation of the acridine ring, resulting in the octahydro analogue 22 (IC50=160 nM), which was more potent than the parent compound. The study concluded that compound 10 is the first high-affinity, non-amino acid gabapentin-mimetic ligand reported, and its radiolabeled form [3H]-10 validated as a specific radioligand for in vitro binding assays.