Nasal spray could transform treatment of deadly cerebral malaria, a master’s student finds
- Beth Amato
Taznita Kista is developing a nano nasal spray to deliver fast, targeted treatment to the brain offering a lifesaving alternative for cerebral malaria in vulner
Taznita Kista, a master’s student and researcher at the Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform (WADDP), is exploring whether a nano-enabled nasal spray could change how cerebral malaria, endemic to many parts of Africa, is treated.
Children under five are the most vulnerable, making up roughly 80% of malaria deaths in Africa. Pregnant women are also at high risk, as infection can lead to severe maternal illness, miscarriage, stillbirth, and low birth weight.
Every minute counts in cerebral malaria. As the disease progresses, infected red blood cells begin to stick to the walls of tiny blood vessels in the brain, blocking blood flow and cutting off oxygen to vital tissue. From that point, the window to prevent irreversible damage is only minutes long. Patients, particularly children, can deteriorate rapidly from fever to seizures, coma, or death.
Starting an intravenous line, which is the standard route for severe malaria treatment, is not always immediate or feasible, especially in rural clinics or emergency situations involving young children.
Kista’s work focuses on a nose-to-brain drug delivery system using niosomes, microscopic vesicles composed of non-ionic surfactants that can encapsulate drugs and enhance their delivery in the body.
“The approach is designed to bypass one of medicine’s most formidable obstacles, the blood-brain barrier. By delivering the drug directly from the nose to the brain via a nasal spray, the system aims to achieve effective concentrations at the site of infection more rapidly.”
Kista chose niosomes in part because they remain relatively underexplored in malaria treatment, despite their potential. “江城足球网ly, they can be produced using low-cost materials, making them suitable for the settings where they are needed most,” she says.
Her potential treatment can be administered quickly at the point of care, without specialised equipment.
Malaria remains one of the leading causes of illness and death globally, with the burden falling overwhelmingly on Africa. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the African region accounts for around 95% of all malaria cases and deaths worldwide.
Meanwhile, drug resistance is becoming an increasing challenge in the fight to end malaria. Parasites reproduce rapidly and can adapt in ways that allow them to evade treatment.
By encapsulating the drug in a nano-delivery system, Kista’s formulation may improve its protection, transport, and release. The niosomes can be engineered to target infected red blood cells more precisely, rather than dispersing broadly throughout the body. This targeted approach could enhance effectiveness while reducing side effects, a critical consideration for vulnerable groups.
Professor Yahya E. Choonara, Director of the Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform, says the work reflects a growing focus on solutions designed for real-world conditions.
“In diseases like cerebral malaria, where time and access are critical, innovation must be strongly rooted in scientific excellence, but also practically deployable. So Taznita’s work is about bringing treatment closer to patients and addressing the realities of healthcare systems in Africa,” he says.
WHO’s theme for World Malaria Day 2026 is “Driven to end malaria. Now we can. Now we must.” Professor Pradeep Kumar, WADDP senior researcher and Kista’s co-supervisor, explains that Taznita’s project, aligned with World Malaria Day, could be “driven to deliver to the brain: nose first, cure next.”