When someone has a stroke, doctors must act quickly to restore blood flow to the brain. This urgent step can save a person’s life.
But ironically, the sudden return of blood can sometimes cause more damage. It can kill brain cells, cause inflammation, and lead to long-term disability.
Now, scientists at Northwestern University have created a new injectable treatment that may protect the brain during this critical time. In a recent study on mice, a single injection given right after restoring blood flow helped reduce brain damage. The treatment also showed no harmful side effects.
The study, published in the journal Neurotherapeutics, could lead to a new therapy that works alongside current stroke treatments. Today’s standard care focuses on clearing the blood clot, but this new approach adds protection to the brain once the blood starts flowing again.
The new treatment uses something called supramolecular therapeutic peptides, or STPs. These are tiny, specially designed molecules that can form dynamic structures—so dynamic, scientists call them “dancing molecules.” These molecules have already shown promise in other research, including helping mice recover from spinal cord injuries.
What makes this therapy exciting is that it can be injected into a vein, without surgery. Even more impressive, it can cross the blood-brain barrier—a natural shield that usually blocks drugs from entering the brain. This makes it a powerful tool for treating stroke and potentially other brain problems, like Alzheimer’s or brain injuries.
In the study, scientists gave mice a stroke by blocking blood flow to part of their brain. Then they removed the blockage to mimic what happens in real-life stroke treatment. Right after that, they injected the dancing molecules. Using advanced imaging, they saw that the molecules reached the injured part of the brain and began to work.
Compared to mice that did not get the injection, the treated mice had much less brain damage. There was also less inflammation and fewer signs of an aggressive immune response. The molecules helped protect brain cells and may have even supported the brain’s ability to repair itself.
The treatment also appears safe. The scientists monitored the mice for a week and found no signs of toxicity or rejection by the immune system.
The way the molecules work is fascinating. Once they cross into the brain, they form a network that looks like natural tissue. This structure sends signals that tell nerve cells to repair themselves and reconnect with other cells. This process is called plasticity—where the brain heals and rewires itself after an injury.
For this stroke study, the researchers used a lower dose to make sure the molecules wouldn’t cause blood clots. They also chose one of the most flexible versions of the therapy, which helped it cross into the brain more easily.
The study shows this therapy might one day be used right after a stroke to reduce brain damage. When blood flow is restored after a stroke, the blood-brain barrier becomes more open for a short time. This makes it a perfect moment to deliver medicine that normally couldn’t get into the brain. The new molecules take advantage of this window.
Next, the researchers want to see if the therapy can help with long-term recovery. Many stroke survivors face memory and thinking problems that show up weeks or months later. The team is also exploring how to add more healing signals to make the treatment even stronger.
In summary, this new therapy could be a big step forward in treating stroke. By protecting the brain during its most vulnerable time, it could reduce disability and improve recovery. It might also help doctors treat other brain-related conditions in the future.
If you care about stroke, please read studies that diets high in flavonoids could help reduce stroke risk, and MIND diet could slow down cognitive decline after stroke.
For more health information, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce the risk of dementia, and tea and coffee may help lower your risk of stroke, dementia.
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