Revolutionary Nasal Drops Treatment For Stroke Patients

Tuesday - June 13 2023, 06:19 UTC - 1 year ago

A new experimental treatment using nasal drops made from a peptide called C3a could be revolutionary for stroke victims. Mice recover motor functions faster and better after stroke when given C3A nasal drops, compared to those given placebo nasal treatment. The medication is currently being developed collaboratively by scientists from the Swedish University of Gothenburg, the German University of Cologne, and the Czech Academy of Sciences.

Every year, more than 795,000 people in the US suffer a stroke. About 87% of these are ischemic strokes, in which the blood flow to the brain is blocked. The medical condition is a leading cause of serious long-term disability, reducing mobility in more than half of stroke survivors age 65 and older. Scientists currently emphasize the importance of a prompt response in the treatment of stroke victims especially in the early hours after the symptoms begin .

However, a new experimental treatment using nasal drops could change the outcome for stroke victims in the future. An experimental treatment has been developed using a peptide called C3, and has found long-lasting and quick recovery times through testing on mice. The peptide has been linked to neurodevelopment and quick recovery. Revolutionizing treatment A multicenter study in which researchers at the Universities of Gothenburg and Cologne implemented parallel testing of an experimental stroke treatment on mice .

The study was conducted in collaboration with researchers at the Czech Academy of Sciences. The research uncovered contrasting effects on functional recovery after ischemic stroke when using the C3a component. It shows inhibition in the acute phase and facilitation in the later phase, the Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI) reported. Scientists saw mice recover motor functions faster and better after stroke when given C3A nasal drops, compared to mice that received a placebo nasal treatment .

The treatment was initiated seven days post-stroke. Marcela Pekna, Professor of Neuroimmunology at Sahlgrenska Academy says, "With this method, there’s no need to race against the clock. If the treatment is used in clinical practice, all stroke patients could receive it, even those who arrive at the hospital too late for thrombolysis or thrombectomy." Pekna, also the leader of the study, adds that the nasal drops could be given to those individuals with remaining disability after the clot is removed and could show signs of improvement too .

Medicinal impact A University of Gothenburg statement said that researchers were able to identify the underlying cellular and molecular processes in the brain through the treatment. "Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that the treatment with C3a peptide increased the formation of new connections among nerve cells in the mouse brains," the press release states. However, some contradictory effects were observed where timing played an important role in C3a peptide treatment .

The molecule can increase the amount of inflammatory cells in thebrain if given too soon. Milos Pekny, Professor at the University of Gothenburg clarifies that the C3a peptide affects the function of astrocytes. He said, "cells that control many of the nerve cells' functions in both the healthy and the diseased brain — and which signals astrocytes send to nerve cells." The medication is currently being developed collaboratively by scientists from the Swedish University of Gothenburg, the German University of Cologne, and the Czech Academy of Sciences .

Professor Marcela Pekna voices that the important thing is the good effect remains. "So far, cures have been very difficult to achieve with existing treatments if the patient arrives at the hospital too late. We believe that the new nasal drops could pave the way for a new avenue of treatment," she said.