Getting life-saving drugs delivered directly to the brain without an invasive or risky procedure has researchers looking for an alternative. Washington University engineers in the Aerosol & Air Quality Research Laboratory are exploring an idea that hinges on gold and locusts! They are creating gold nanoparticles to be a drug carrier for people to one day inhale with a sniff of a nasal spray. The nanoparticles would reach neural pathways through the upper regions of the nasal cavity, a direct route to the brain. Engineers have successfully tested the method in locusts! The research could lead to the development of more effective methods and options to treat brain diseases and disorders, including brain tumors and brain injuries.