Nanopowder Nasal Spray: Revolutionizing Stroke Rescue

Most ischemic stroke patients are ineligible for standard treatments such as intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy due to narrow therapeutic time windows, delayed hospital admission, and various contraindications. As a result, fewer than 15% of patients receive these reperfusion therapies. Turning to neuroprotective strategies, our intranasal approach aims to effectively deliver nanoneurotherapeutics through the nose‑to‑brain pathway, addressing critical unmet medical needs in stroke care.

• Nose-to-brain pathway: The highly selective blood–brain barrier (BBB) restricts the entry of most small‑molecule drugs, creating major challenges in delivering therapeutics to the central nervous system. Our intranasal drug delivery platform overcomes this limitation through a nose‑to‑brain transport mechanism that targets the olfactory bulb and bypasses the BBB, enabling more efficient and effective drug delivery.
• Nanocarrier technology: Our technology enables the successful fabrication of polymeric nanoparticles within a precise size range. This design allows us to overcome major delivery barriers including degradation by mucus enzymes, the size‑restrictive mucin mesh, nasal epithelial permeation, and neuronal cellular uptake thereby facilitating efficient transport to the central nervous system.
• Nano-in-micron engineering: The manufacturing platform enables the production of stable, redispersible dry inhalable powders by agglomerating polymeric nanoparticles with gelling polymers. To minimize batch variability and ensure scalability, all processes are integrated into a continuous system, providing precise control over particle size and enhancing inhalation performance.

• Portable and prehospital life-saver: The NanoPowder Nasal Spray is the first product designed to enable prehospital first-aid intervention for ischemic stroke through rapid nose-to-brain delivery. Its portable, passive design allows immediate administration anytime and anywhere even to unconscious patients, extending the treatment window of traditional therapies and improving emergency rescue outcomes.
• Preserving neurological functions: Preclinical studies have demonstrated that this approach effectively limits infarct progression and maintains neurological functions, resulting in markedly improved outcomes. By reducing the extent of brain injury, it enhances the potential for functional recovery and lowers the risk of long‑term disability. These medical benefits also translate into broader societal impacts, including improved quality of life and reduced healthcare burdens.
• Versatile central nervous system platform: Initially focused on small molecules, the platform’s adaptability allows it to be applied to macromolecules as well as Traditional Chinese Medicine. Its scope extends beyond ischemic stroke to a range of neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, brain injury, and brain cancer.

• Awarded the HKUMed Xelerate 2025 championship and granted HKD 1.5M by the Tam Wing Fan Innovation Startup Fund.
• 49th International Exhibition of Investions Geneva Silver Medal
• The 8th International Invention Innovation Competition in Canada (iCAN 2023) — Silver Medal & Jury's Choice Award.

• Inhaled small‑molecule neuroprotectants for rapid ischemic stroke intervention
• Platform extending to traditional Chinese medicines for neuroprotective therapy

• US patent No. 63/498,919 China patent No. CN 118845721 A HK patent No. HK 40116441