Voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels represent an important class of drug target for pain and many other pathology conditions. Despite the recent advances in channelopathies and structure-function studies, the discovery of Nav channel therapeutics is still facing a major challenge from the limitation of assay technologies. This chapter will focus on advancement and challenge of Nav drug discovery technologies including nonelectrophysiological assays, extracellular electrophysiological assays, and the newly evolved high-throughput automated patch clamp (APC) technologies.
Part of the book: Ion Channels in Health and Sickness