NBQX is an AMPA

AMPA

AMPA is a compound that is a specific agonist for the AMPA receptor, where it mimics the effects of the neurotransmitter glutamate....

 receptor antagonist

Receptor antagonist

A receptor antagonist is a type of receptor ligand or drug that does not provoke a biological response itself upon binding to a receptor, but blocks or dampens agonist-mediated responses...

.

NBQX blocks AMPA receptor

AMPA receptor

The α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor is a non-NMDA-type ionotropic transmembrane receptor for glutamate that mediates fast synaptic transmission in the central nervous system . Its name is derived from its ability to be activated by the artificial glutamate analog AMPA...

s in micromolar concentrations (~10–20 µM) and also blocks kainate receptors. In experiments, it is used to counter glutamate excitotoxicity

Excitotoxicity

Excitotoxicity is the pathological process by which nerve cells are damaged and killed by excessive stimulation by neurotransmitters such as glutamate and similar substances. This occurs when receptors for the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate such as the NMDA receptor and AMPA receptor are...

. NBQX was found to have anticonvulsant activity in rodent seizure models.

As the disodium salt, NBQX is soluble in water at high concentrations (at least up to 100 mM).