Structure activity relationship in opioid peptides and pseudopeptides. With Prof. Salvadori S. (University of Ferrara) and Lazarus L. H. (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, USA), we are a leader group at international level in the study of peptides and pseudopeptides deriving from the Dmt-Tic pharmacophore. Our research group was the first to consider the introduction of the aminoacid Dmt (dimethyl tyrosine) in opioid peptides.

1980: Degree in Medicinal Chemistry and Technology “Cum Laude”, University of Ferrara
1981: Degree in Pharmacy “Cum Laude”, University of Ferrara.
1986: PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences.
1986: Organic Chemistry Researcher.
1989-1998: Medicinal Chemistry Researcher.
1990: Specialization in Cosmetic Science and Technology.
1998- Associate Professor in Medicinal Chemistry, University of Cagliari (Italy).

VERGURA R, BALBONI G, SPAGNOLO B, GAVIOLI E, LAMBERT D. G, MADONALD J, TRAPELLA C, LAZARUS L. H, REGOLI D, GUERRINI R, SALVADORI S, CALO' G. (2008) Anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like activities of H-Dmt-Tic-NH-CH(CH2-COOH)-Bid (UFP-512), a novel selective delta opioid receptor agonist. PEPTIDES vol. 29, pp. 93-103.
AGUILA B, COULBAULT L, BOULOUAERD M, LEVEILLE F, DAVIS A, TOTH G, BORSODI A, BALBONI G., SALVADORI S, JAUZAC P, ALLOUCHE S. (2007). In vitro and in vivo pharmacological profile of UFP-512, a novel selective delta-opioid receptor agonist, correlation between desensitization and tolerance. BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. vol. 152, pp. 1312-1324.
BALBONI G., ONNIS V, CONGIU C, ZOTTI M, SASAKI Y, AMBO A, BRYANT S. D, JINSMAA Y, LAZARUS L. H, LAZZARI I, TRAPELLA C, SALVADORI S. (2007). Further studies on the effect of lysine at the C-terminus of the Dmt-Tic opioid pharmacophore. BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY. vol. 15, pp. 3143-3151.
CHAO D, BAZZY-ASAAD A, BALBONI G., XIA Y. (2007). Delta-, but not mu-, opioid receptor stabilize K+ homeostasis by reducing Ca2+ influx in the cortex during acute hypoxia. JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY. vol. 212, pp. 60-67.
SALVADORI S, TRAPELLA C, FIORINI S, NEGRI L, LATTANZI R, BRYANT S. D, JINSMAA Y, LAZARUS L. H, BALBONI G. (2007). A new opioid designed multiple ligand derived from the mu opioid agonist endomorphin-2 and the delta opioid antagonist pharmacophore Dmt-Tic. BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY. vol. 15, pp. 6876-6881.
BALBONI G., ONNIS V, CONGIU C, ZOTTI M, SASAKI Y, AMBO A, BRYANT S. D, JINSMAA Y, LAZARUS L. H, TRAPELLA C, SALVADORI S. (2006). Effect of Lysine at C-Terminus of the Dmt-Tic Opioid Pharmacophore. JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY. vol. 49, pp. 5610-5617.
BALLET S, SALVADORI S, TRAPELLA C, BRYANT S. D, JINSMAA Y, LAZARUS L. H, NEGRI L, GIANNINI E, LATTANZI R, TOURWE' D, BALBONI G. (2006). New 2',6'-Dimethyl-L-Tyrosine (Dmt) Opioid Peptidomimetics Based on the Aba-Gly Scaffold. Development of Unique mu-Opioid Ligands. JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY. vol. 49, pp. 3990-3993.
NEUMEYER J. L, PENG X, KNAPP B. I, BIDLACK J. M, LAZARUS L. H, SALVADORI S, TRAPELLA C, BALBONI G. (2006). New Opioid Designed Multiple Ligand from Dmt-Tic and Morphinan Pharmacophores. JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY. vol. 49, pp. 5640-5643.
TORREGROSSA M. M, JUTKIEWICZ E. M, MOSBERG H. I, BALBONI G., WATSON S. J, WOODS J. H. (2006). Peptidic delta opioid receptor agonists produce antidepressant-like effects in the forced swim test amd regulate BDNF mRNA expression in rats. BRAIN RESEARCH. vol. 1069, pp. 172-181.
VAZQUEZ M. V, BLANCO J. B, SALVADORI S, TRAPELLA C, ARGAZZI R, BRYANT S. D, JINSMAA Y, LAZARUS L. H, NEGRI L, GIANNINI E, LATTANZI R, COLUCCI M, BALBONI G. (2006). 6-N,N-Dimethylamino-2,3-naphthalimide: A New Environment-Sensitive Fluorescent Probe in delta- and mu-Selective Opioid Peptides. JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY. vol. 49, pp. 3653-3658.