A new therapy can repair brain damage after stroke. Researchers at Northwestern University have created an innovative intravenous (IV) treatment designed to safeguard and heal brain tissue following the most common form of stroke: ischemic stroke. In an ischemic stroke, a blood clot obstructs blood flow to part of the brain. While doctors can often quickly reopen the blocked vessel using clot-busting drugs or mechanical removal, the sudden restoration of blood flow can trigger a harmful cascade of inflammation and widespread cell death.
The new therapy harnesses tiny, dynamic structures known as supramolecular therapeutic peptides (STPs)—often described as “dancing molecules.” Administered via IV right after blood flow is restored, these peptide assemblies successfully crossed the blood-brain barrier in mice, accumulated precisely at the site of injury, and significantly reduced brain tissue damage, inflammation, and destructive immune responses—with no detectable side effects.
This breakthrough builds on the team’s earlier success using similar peptide nanomaterials to reverse paralysis and repair spinal cord injuries in mice with a single injection. For stroke treatment, the researchers fine-tuned the peptide concentration to form smaller clusters that can safely circulate in the bloodstream, pass through the temporarily compromised blood-brain barrier, and then self-assemble into larger nanofibers directly inside the brain. Once assembled, these structures appear to promote tissue regeneration and suppress harmful inflammation.
Although the current results come from short-term studies in mice, the researchers are optimistic that this approach could one day be combined with standard stroke interventions to minimize long-term disability. They also see potential for adapting the technology to other neurological conditions, such as traumatic brain injury or neurodegenerative diseases. Longer-term studies are still needed to confirm whether the therapy can improve lasting brain function and support meaningful recovery in patients.
[Gao, Z., Andrade da Silva, L. H., Li, Z., Chen, F., Smith, C., Lipfert, Z., Martynowicz, R., Arias, E., Muller, W. A., Sullivan, D. P., Stupp, S. I., & Batra, A. (2026). Toward development of a dynamic supramolecular peptide therapy for acute ischemic stroke. *Neurotherapeutics*]
canisgallicus 