Scientists create ‘emergency rescue’ nasal spray for use after stroke

TechnologyHealth & Fitness
11 May 2026 • 6:34 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Scientists create ‘emergency rescue’ nasal spray for use after stroke

  • Scientists in Hong Kong have developed the world's first nasal spray designed to protect brain cells immediately following a stroke.
  • The "Nanopowder" spray delivers brain-protective drugs directly to the brain by bypassing the blood-brain barrier via the nose-to-brain pathway.
  • Administering the spray within 30 minutes of stroke onset can reduce brain tissue death by over 80 per cent and protect neurological and body movement functions.
  • This innovation aims to provide early protection en route to the hospital, significantly slowing cell death and extending the crucial therapeutic window for stroke treatment.
  • Researchers believe this could be a breakthrough solution for prehospital emergency stroke treatment, shifting intervention from an in-hospital to an earlier stage.

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