Nose-spray nanoparticles to block airborne RNA viruses
A universal intranasal nanoengineered therapy against airborne RNA viruses
This nasal nanoparticle spray is designed to quickly boost natural antiviral defenses in the nose to help prevent infection from airborne RNA viruses like coronaviruses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11330585 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are designing tiny engineered particles that are delivered as a nasal spray to switch on a natural antiviral protein (IFIT1) in the lining of the nose. The team will test the spray's ability to lower viral levels in nasal cells and to stop viruses from spreading to other parts of the body. Work will start in lab-grown nasal cells and animal models to study safety, where the particles go in the body, and how well they block infection before any human testing takes place.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Future trials would most likely recruit people at higher risk of exposure or severe disease—for example healthcare workers and immunocompromised individuals such as some people with advanced cancer.
Not a fit: People already severely ill with widespread viral infection or with nasal conditions that prevent safe intranasal delivery may not benefit from this prophylactic approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could give fast, broad protection against new airborne RNA viruses and reduce infections and transmission.
How similar studies have performed: Related intranasal antiviral and innate-immune activation approaches have shown promise in laboratory and animal studies, but a universal nanoparticle nasal prophylactic has not yet been proven in humans.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mahajan, Vinay Subhash — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Mahajan, Vinay Subhash
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.