Intranasal
Intranasal delivery exploits richly vascularized nasal mucosa and direct nose-to-brain pathways (olfactory and trigeminal) to enable rapid systemic and CNS uptake without IV access. It is suitable for emergency analgesics, anticonvulsants, naloxone, and mucosal vaccines; formulation, mucociliary clearance, and deposition determine bioavailability.
Technical Challenges
Rapid mucociliary clearance and limited nasal residence time reduce absorption and dose consistency.
Inter-individual and situational variability (rhinitis, blood, dehydration, cold environment) alter bioavailability.
Restricted deliverable volume and concentration limit dosing for many small-molecule and biologic agents.
Formulation-related irritation, local toxicity, and potential for nasal mucosa damage with permeation enhancers.
Predictable nose-to-brain targeting and translational models for CNS delivery remain immature.
Emerging Opportunities
Device solutions that ensure reproducible deposition in turbinates and olfactory regions under field conditions.
Stable, concentrated formulations (liquid and dry powder) that preserve potency, sterility, and tolerability.
Safe, effective absorption enhancers or mucoadhesive systems that extend residence time without mucosal injury.
Validated preclinical and clinical endpoints for nose-to-brain transport and military-relevant efficacy (e.g., seizure termination, analgesia onset).
Scalable manufacturing and cold-chain–resilient products suited to austere logistics and prolonged field care.
Current and Emerging Technologies in Intranasal
Mucosal atomization devices and metered-dose atomizers
Portable atomizers and prefilled metered devices provide consistent droplet size and rapid administration without IV setup, ideal for prehospital and point-of-injury use.
Dry powder intranasal formulations
Stable powders enable thermostable vaccines and biologics, improve shelf life in austere settings, and may enhance uptake to olfactory regions when engineered for particle size and flow.
Mucoadhesive polymers and absorption enhancers
Chitosan derivatives, cellulose ethers, and novel excipients extend residence time and open paracellular pathways to increase bioavailability while maintaining mucosal safety.
Nanoparticle and liposomal carriers for targeted delivery
Nanocarriers can protect labile cargos, permit controlled release, and facilitate trans-epithelial or neuronal transport for CNS-active drugs and vaccines.
Smart devices and sensors for dose confirmation
Integrated dose trackers, Bluetooth-enabled logs, and feedback sensors improve adherence, allow after-action review, and support remote clinical decision-making in distributed care.
Importance to Military Medicine
Rapid, non‑IV intervention at point of injury
Enables immediate administration of lifesaving agents (analgesics, naloxone, anticonvulsants) when IV access is delayed or impossible.
Support for prolonged and austere care
Therapies that are stable at ambient temperatures and do not require infusion pumps reduce logistic burden during extended field care.
Force readiness through mucosal immunization
Nasal vaccines can elicit local mucosal immunity and reduce transmission risk in close-quarter deployments.
Minimized skill requirements for frontline providers
Simplified administration suits medics, corpsmen, and nonmedical responders operating under fire or in remote environments.
Alignment with the MTEC Mission
Accelerates translational pathways from bench to deployed use by combining device, formulation, and clinical expertise in line with MTEC’s DoD-focused mission.
Supports combat casualty care, infectious disease defense, and prolonged/distributed care portfolios prioritized by MTEC.
Enables dual-use solutions that yield civilian public-health benefits while meeting military readiness and austere logistics requirements.
Dual-Use (Military + Civilian) Applications
Prehospital and point-of-injury analgesia, emergency seizure control, opioid overdose reversal, rapid vaccination for outbreak control, and targeted CNS drug delivery for TBI/concussion therapies.
Explore MTEC Members with Intranasal Capabilities
MTEC members—spanning academic formulation scientists, device manufacturers, clinical trialists, and military medical researchers—bring complementary expertise to solve formulation, device, and clinical-validation gaps. Explore member profiles to identify partners with experience in nasal vaccines, dry-powder platforms, atomizer design, and field-testing in austere environments.
76 Members with Intranasal capabilities.
The University of Texas System is a leading public university system in the United States, dedicated to improving lives through education, health care, and research. With over 256,000 students enrolled across 14 institutions, the UT System is committed to providing affordable access to higher education and producing a skilled workforce to drive Texas's economy.
Georgia Southern University is a vibrant institution with over 26,100 students across three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, and Hinesville. The university offers 132 degree programs at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate levels, emphasizing student success, community impact, and research excellence. With a commitment to inclusivity and engagement, Georgia Southern fosters a supportive environment for diverse learners, including military-affiliated and adult students. The university is dedicated to transforming lives through education and community engagement, aligning its programs with regional needs. Additionally, Georgia Southern provides accelerated pathways for students to fast-track their master's degrees, enhancing educational opportunities. The university also emphasizes career readiness and public impact research, preparing students for successful careers and contributing to community development.
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The University of Chicago is a prestigious urban research university committed to rigorous inquiry and intellectual freedom. Founded in 1890, it has produced numerous Nobel laureates and is known for its transformative education and groundbreaking research across various fields. The university fosters an inclusive and diverse learning environment, encouraging participation from all community members.
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Boston University is a major research institution committed to leading breakthroughs across various disciplines. The Office of Research supports and advances research excellence, fostering collaboration among researchers, industry partners, and government leaders to address significant societal challenges.
Baylor University is a preeminent Christian research university committed to addressing the world's most meaningful challenges through top-tier research and scholarship. Recognized as an R1 research institution, Baylor focuses on infusing its distinct Christian mission into its research initiatives, fostering a commitment to excellence and innovation.
Limax Biosciences is dedicated to revolutionizing tissue healing through innovative biomaterials inspired by the natural slime of slugs. Their hydrogels provide superior adhesion and healing capabilities, addressing unmet medical needs both inside and outside the body.
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The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is Maryland’s public health, law, and human services university. It is dedicated to improving the human condition and serving the public good through education, research, clinical care, and service. UMB is the founding campus of the University System of Maryland and offers a wide range of professional degrees in health care, human services, and law.
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