The multicomponent Passerini reaction as a means of accessing diversity in structure, activity and properties: Soft and hard vanilloid/cannabinoid modulators.

A growing body of evidence points to the existence of a crosstalk between the endovanilloid (EV)- and the endocannabinoid (EC) systems, leading to the concept of a single system based on a shared set of endogenous ligands and regulation mechanisms. The EV/EC system encompasses the ion channel TRPV1, the G protein coupled receptors CB1 and CB2, their endogenous ligands and the enzymes for biosynthesis and inactivation. Disorders in which the EV/EC interaction is involved are inflammation, pain, neurodegenerative diseases and disorders of bones and skin.

Compartmentalized primary cultures of dorsal root ganglion neurons to model peripheral pathophysiological conditions.

Neurosensory disorders such as pain and pruritus remain a major health problem greatly impacting the quality of life, and often increasing the risk of mortality. Current pre-clinical models to investigate dysfunction of sensory neurons have shown a limited clinical translation, in part, by failing to mimic the compartmentalized nociceptor anatomy that exhibits a central compartment containing the soma and a peripheral one harboring the axon endings with distinct molecular and cellular environmental composition. Thus, there is a need to validate compartmentalized preclinical neurosensory models for investigating the pathophysiology of peripheral sensory disorders and to test drug candidates.