NIMHANS study demonstrates promise in intranasal therapy for Parkinson’s disease
- Health
ThePostMaster- 0
- 7 minutes read
Researchers at NIMHANS, Bengaluru have reported encouraging results from a pre-clinical study in which a non-invasive, intranasally delivered therapy improved motor and biological markers associated with Parkinson’s disease in rats.
Parkinson’s disease is characterised by the gradual loss of dopamine-producing neurons in a midbrain structure called the substantia nigra, leading to tremors, rigidity and slowing of movement. Existing treatments largely address symptoms and do not arrest progression.
Funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Department of Science and Technology, the study has been published in the journal Stem Cell Research and Therapy. It was led by Indrani Datta, professor at the department of biophysics at NIMHANS, along with doctoral researchers Kallolika Mondal and Rituparna Ghanty, in collaboration with the department of neuropathology.
“This is not just a proposed hope for Parkinson’s patients, we have successfully demonstrated in a pre-clinical rat model that this strategy works,” Dr. Datta told The Hindu. “What makes this particularly exciting is that we have shown, for the first time, that these exosomes can trigger the brain to generate new dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain structure, the very region that degenerates in the disease,” Dr. Datta said.
What is Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson disease (PD) is a brain condition that causes problems with movement, mental health, sleep, pain and other health issues.
PD gets worse over time. There is no cure, but therapies and medicines can reduce symptoms. Common symptoms include tremors, painful muscle contractions and difficulty speaking.
Parkinson disease results in high rates of disability and the need for care. Many people with PD also develop dementia.
The disease usually occurs in older people, but younger people can also be affected. Men are affected more often than women.
The cause of PD is unknown but people with a family history of the disease have a higher risk. Exposure to air pollution, pesticides and solvents may increase risk.
Source: World Health Organization
How the therapy works
The team used small extracellular vesicles, or exosomes, derived from dental pulp stem cells. These particles can cross the blood-brain barrier and carry therapeutic molecules to injured regions.
“Think of exosomes as intelligent courier packages. They can cross the blood-brain barrier and deposit on to damaged or inflamed areas, like a GPS-guided delivery system,” said Ms. Mondal, first author of the study.
The vesicles were loaded with phloroglucinol, a natural antioxidant, and administered intranasally. “The intranasal route provides a direct highway from the nose to the brain. This bypasses the digestive system and helps the cargo reach the midbrain intact,” she said.
What the study found
Animals that received the therapy showed better motor coordination and locomotor performance. The researchers reported restoration of dopamine levels, changes in other neurotransmitters, and reduced inflammatory markers. Improvements were also noted in certain non-motor parameters.
“We observed that the exosomes naturally homed to areas of inflammation and injury. Using imaging, we tracked them accumulating in the midbrain, precisely where they were needed,” Dr. Datta said.
The other doctoral researcher, Rituparna Ghanty, said the group found signals consistent with the generation of new neurons. “Previous studies suggested this might be possible, but we have now shown that these vesicles, particularly with phloroglucinol, can trigger dopaminergic neuron formation from the brain’s own progenitor cells,” Ms. Ghanty said.
Safety and next steps
The researchers did not observe significant accumulation of the vesicles in peripheral organs during the study period. “We found no build-up in the lungs or liver over four weeks,” Dr. Datta said.
However, the team underlined that several stages of work remain before human testing.
Dr. Datta said four broad areas require attention. These include detailed toxicology and safety assessments such as dose escalation, long-term biodistribution, immunogenicity and tumour risk in at least two animal species. Studies must also test the therapy after the onset of motor symptoms, reflecting real-world clinical scenarios.
In addition, researchers will need to establish a fully standardised GMP manufacturing pipeline with validated batch consistency, sterility, stability and a defined potency assay. Further mechanistic confirmation, including advanced molecular profiling and validation in large-animal models, will be necessary to strengthen confidence in translation.
“For decades we have focused on replacing dopamine or managing symptoms. This approach attempts to help the brain repair itself while reducing inflammation and oxidative stress,” Dr. Datta added.
Published – February 16, 2026 07:30 pm IST
