Scientists from the University of Hong Kong have developed a new nasal spray that could dramatically change how strokes are treated in the future.
The spray, called the “NanoPowder nasal spray,” was designed to quickly deliver medicine directly into the brain during the earliest moments of a stroke.
Researchers believe the technology could one day help save brain cells, reduce disability, and improve survival rates for millions of people worldwide.
The research was carried out by scientists from the LKS Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong together with the InnoHK Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre.
Their findings and technology have already received international recognition, including major awards at the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva.
Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability around the world. An ischemic stroke, which is the most common type, happens when a blood clot blocks blood flow to part of the brain. Without oxygen and nutrients, brain cells begin to die very quickly.
Doctors often say “time is brain” because every minute after a stroke can lead to the loss of millions of brain cells. Current treatments mainly focus on restoring blood flow through clot-busting drugs or mechanical procedures that remove the clot.
However, these treatments must be given within a very short time window to work well. Many patients cannot reach a hospital quickly enough. Others may not qualify for treatment because of health conditions or limited medical resources.
According to the researchers, more than 85% of stroke patients worldwide do not receive treatment in time. Even among patients who are treated successfully, many are still left with long-term disability involving speech, movement, memory, or daily functioning.
This is why scientists have been searching for new ways to protect the brain before patients arrive at the hospital.
The new NanoPowder nasal spray was specifically designed as a prehospital emergency treatment. It aims to protect brain tissue during the critical early period after a stroke begins.
Professor Aviva Chow Shing-fung, one of the leaders of the project, explained that the spray is portable, easy to use, and works rapidly. The goal is to allow treatment to begin while patients are traveling to the hospital or even before emergency services arrive.
One of the biggest scientific challenges in brain medicine is the blood-brain barrier, often called the BBB. This barrier protects the brain from harmful substances in the bloodstream. However, it also blocks many useful medicines from entering the brain.
Scientists say more than 90% of experimental brain drugs fail partly because they cannot cross this barrier effectively.
To solve this problem, the Hong Kong research team spent more than ten years developing a special “Nano-in-Micron” technology platform.
The spray contains tiny drug-loaded nanoparticles packaged inside larger powder particles. When the powder is sprayed into the nose, it settles inside the nasal cavity. Once it touches moisture inside the nose, the powder quickly breaks apart into nanoparticles.
These nanoparticles can then travel directly from the nose to the brain, bypassing the blood-brain barrier.
This allows medicine to reach brain tissue much faster than traditional methods.
In animal studies, the results were extremely promising. When the nasal spray was given within 30 minutes after stroke onset, brain damage was reduced by more than 80%.
The treatment also helped preserve neurological and motor function, suggesting that the brain remained healthier after the stroke.
The researchers believe the spray may work in several ways at once. It may reduce inflammation in the brain, prevent brain cells from dying, and help preserve the integrity of the blood-brain barrier itself.
Dr. Shao Zitong, another member of the research team, emphasized that the spray is not intended to replace hospital treatments such as clot removal or clot-dissolving drugs.
Instead, it is designed to buy valuable time during the earliest phase of a stroke.
Even a few extra minutes of brain protection could strongly affect whether a person can later walk, speak, or live independently.
The researchers believe this technology could eventually become a community emergency tool available in pharmacies, ambulances, or homes.
The scientists are now planning toxicology studies and future clinical trials to test safety and effectiveness in humans.
The technology may also have uses beyond stroke treatment. Researchers believe the same nose-to-brain delivery system could someday help treat Alzheimer’s disease, motor neuron diseases, meningitis, and other neurological conditions.
The study represents a major step forward because it shifts stroke care from the hospital to the earliest possible moment after symptoms begin.
Still, more research is needed before the spray becomes available to the public. Animal studies are encouraging, but scientists must confirm that the treatment is safe and effective in people.
Overall, the findings suggest that fast, non-invasive brain protection may become an important new strategy in stroke care. If successful in future trials, the nasal spray could help save lives and reduce disability for countless patients around the world.
If you care about stroke, please read studies about how to eat to prevent stroke, and diets high in flavonoids could help reduce stroke risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and wild blueberries can benefit your heart and brain.
Source: University of Hong Kong.
