United States: The scientists at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have pioneered an innovative nasal spray—PCANS—that stands poised to alter the fight against respiratory infections. This groundbreaking spray serves as a formidable barricade, ensnaring and neutralizing a vast array of pathogens that infiltrate the nasal passageways. Demonstrated through meticulous laboratory experiments and animal testing, PCANS has shown remarkable efficacy in staving off infections. If clinical trials in humans corroborate these findings, the implications could be transformative.
A Multitude of Respiratory Threats in Focus
In a recent scientific inquiry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital—a foundational institution within the Mass General Brigham network—unveiled research that elucidates how the PCANS spray can serve as a bastion against both viral and bacterial respiratory invaders. The preclinical analysis reveals that this spray offers long-lasting protection and is devoid of harmful effects. Should human trials yield congruent outcomes, PCANS may emerge as a key instrument in curbing respiratory illnesses and defending public health from emergent threats. This significant study has been published in the esteemed journal Advanced Materials, according to reports by scitechdaily.com.
Co-lead author Dr. Jeffrey Karp, a distinguished chair in Anesthesiology at Brigham, emphasized the unrelenting danger of respiratory pathogens. “The COVID pandemic revealed the severe vulnerability of humankind to airborne infections, a threat that remains persistent,” he warned. “Beyond seasonal influenza, we now confront COVID on an ongoing basis.”
Pathogen’s Gateway: Understanding Respiratory Infections
Annually, illnesses like influenza and COVID-19 claim thousands of lives and cause severe illness for hundreds of thousands more. Even milder infections, although less lethal, inflict significant disruptions by compelling individuals to take time off work or school.
While vaccines provide a vital defense, they are far from infallible. Vaccinated individuals can still contract the viruses and become vectors for further transmission. Masks, while beneficial, are imperfect—they can leak, and adherence to their proper use is inconsistent.
“We urgently require additional measures to safeguard ourselves and mitigate disease transmission,” Dr. Karp noted.
The vast majority of respiratory viruses gain access to the body through the nasal cavity. When we exhale infected droplets containing pathogens—whether through coughing, sneezing, laughing, or simply breathing—those around us inadvertently inhale these particles, allowing the pathogens to attach to and infect the cells lining their nasal passages. From there, the pathogen rapidly multiplies and is often expelled back into the environment, perpetuating the cycle of infection.
The study conducted by the Brigham team focused on crafting a potent nasal defense capable of intercepting airborne infections at their point of entry. Dubbed the Pathogen Capture and Neutralizing Spray (PCANS), this formulation utilizes components sourced from the FDA’s Inactive Ingredient Database (IID), which have previously been sanctioned for use in approved nasal products. Additionally, some compounds are derived from the FDA’s Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) list.
Co-lead author Dr. Nitin Joshi highlighted the spray’s innovative approach. “This formulation is drug-free and thwarts infection through a three-pronged mechanism: PCANS forms a gel-like matrix, effectively trapping pathogen-laden droplets, immobilizing germs, and neutralizing them, thus preventing their proliferation.”
Laboratory Triumphs: PCANS in Action
Initial experiments conducted in highly controlled laboratory settings utilized a 3D-printed human nasal replica to ascertain PCANS’ effectiveness. Results indicated that PCANS entrapped respiratory droplets with double the efficiency of natural mucus.
“PCANS solidifies into a gel structure, amplifying its mechanical resistance by an impressive factor of 100, creating a formidable barrier,” explained primary author Dr. John Joseph. “This protective matrix blocked and neutralized nearly all viruses and bacteria tested, including high-risk pathogens such as influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and bacteria like Klebsiella pneumoniae.”
In experiments involving mice, a solitary dose of PCANS effectively blocked an influenza virus at a concentration 25 times higher than the lethal threshold. Post-infection, virus levels in the lungs of treated mice were reduced by more than 99.99%, and inflammatory responses remained within normal ranges, according to reports by scitechdalily.com.
The findings offer a compelling glimpse into the spray’s vast potential. “The ability of PCANS to inactivate such a wide spectrum of pathogens, including the lethal PR8 influenza strain, is truly remarkable,” said co-senior author Dr Yohannes Tesfaigzi, an AstraZeneca Professor of Medicine specializing in respiratory and inflammatory diseases at Brigham. He further added, “The prophylactic use of PCANS in mice provided total protection, with the untreated control group receiving no such benefit.”
Toward a Future of Enhanced Respiratory Defense
Although the research is still in its preclinical phase and human studies have yet to commence, these early successes lay the groundwork for further exploration. The team is already investigating whether PCANS might also offer relief from allergens, potentially broadening its application to allergic rhinitis and other airborne irritants.
As respiratory pathogens continue to evolve, the development of barrier-based, broad-spectrum interventions like PCANS may prove indispensable in the fight to protect global public health.