Rapid Cooling and Neuroprotection: Intranasal Vanilloid Nanodrugs for Acute Brain Injuries

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and ischemic stroke cause long-term neurological deficits due to secondary injury mechanisms like excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is a promising neuroprotective strategy, but current cooling methods are invasive, slow, and have systemic risks. We propose a nanodrug-based approach for rapid TH induction via intranasal vanilloid nanodrugs activating the TRPV1 receptor, achieving localized brain cooling and neuroprotection.

Alexia Kafkoutsou – Graduate Student, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Jake Borgia – Undergraduate Student, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami; Emre Dikici, Ph.D. – Scientist, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Juliana Sanchez-Molano, M.D. – Scientist, Department of Neurological Surgery, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Sapna Deo, Ph.D. – Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Helen Bramlett, Ph.D. – Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Dalton Dietrich, Ph.D. – Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Sylvia Daunert, Ph.D. – Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine