A method of inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) dimerization without substantially inhibiting the catalytic activity of MMP-9, comprising contacting the MMP-9 with a small molecule compound of the structurewherein A is a ring structure which is substituted by R2, R3 and R4 X is present or absent and when present is NH, O, ester or N-monosubstituted amide Z is S, O, or N n is an integer from 0-5 R1 is alkyl, aryl, heteroalkyl, or heteroaryl, each with or without substitution and R2, R3, and R4 is each present or absent, and is each independently H, alkyl, aryl, heteroalkyl, heteroaryl, each with or without substitution,or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
