Peptides are the short strings of amino acids that (under the right conditions) create proteins in our bodies. They are essential for cellular health, and they have many natural benefits like muscle building, joint pain management, immune system support, and anti-aging. Many peptides are also naturally anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, which makes them ideal for managing inflammation in autoimmune diseases, arthritis, and chronic infections.
Unlike small-molecule drugs that require a chemical modification to cross the blood-brain barrier, peptides have a natural route of access through the olfactory nerves. Intranasal delivery of peptides can be fast, safe and efficient, and it bypasses the BBB and minimizes systemic exposure. Moreover, it allows the drug to reach the brain directly and is less prone to degradation and hepatic first-pass effects.
In the future, peptide nasal sprays could be used to treat a variety of conditions and illnesses that currently have no cure, including Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and Parkinson’s disease. These therapies can be particularly effective for autoimmune disorders, and they may even help to reduce the risk of developing these disorders in the first place.
The team at A1R-CT has found a way to deliver their peptides directly to the brain through the nose. Their peptides work by inhibiting the protein neurabin, which tamps down the excessive electrical activity that causes seizures. They’ve tested their peptides in a mouse model of severe seizures and in an Alzheimer’s mouse model, and they’re both effective when the peptides are injected directly into the brain or delivered through the nasal mucosa.
Another group of researchers has recently published a study demonstrating the effectiveness of nasally delivered peptides in improving olfactory function in patients with narcolepsy who have cataplexies, a characteristic symptom of this sleep disorder. The researchers administered a peptide called orexin-A, which is a neuropeptide that is deficient or undetectable in the CSF of people with narcolepsy. The peptide was delivered through the nose using a pump that sprayed a fine mist into each nostril, and it accumulated in the CSF to a significant degree within 80 minutes. The peptide also showed up in the bloodstream, but it was significantly lower in concentration than that of the CSF. peptide nasal sprays