Xylazine as an emerging new psychoactive substance; focuses on both 5‐HT7 and κ‐opioid receptors' molecular interactions and isosteric replacement
Archiv der Pharmazie March 1, 2025 Giuseppe Floresta, Alberto Granzotto, Vincenzo Patamia et al. 12 citations
Xylazine, a veterinary sedative now used recreationally with fentanyl, interacts with human serotonin 7 (5-HT7R) and kappa-opioid (KOR) receptors. Computational docking and molecular dynamics simulations identified binding motifs and showed that small structural changes can improve xylazine's affinity for these receptors. These findings may help explain xylazine's psychoactive effects and guide treatments for overdoses.