Scorpion venom peptide engineered to sting brain disorders

Close up the Deathstalker scorpion

Source: © Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket, Getty Images

Structure used to escort nanoparticles across blood–brain barrier also resists protease degradation

A modified version of a peptide found in scorpion venom can transport molecules across membrane layers resembling the blood–brain barrier, new research shows. The system, created by scientists in Spain, could serve as a way to deliver drugs for neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and brain tumours.