How NoriZite® works

The award-winning NoriZite® Nasal Spray uses dual-polymer matrix technology – a carefully balanced combination of gellan gum and iota-carrageenan – to create a structured fluid-gel barrier inside the nose.

This barrier is designed to help:

Viruses – helping to prevent infection

Particulate pollution – helping to reduce symptoms of rhinitis

Pollen – helping to prevent seasonal allergy symptoms

By forming a long-lasting, gel-like layer over the nasal surface, the NoriZite® dual-polymer matrix spreads widely, adheres well and stays in place, helping to trap inhaled particles so they can be removed via the body’s own clearance mechanisms before they can cause problems.

In laboratory studies, this dual-polymer matrix has been shown to be highly effective in blocking airborne viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and other respiratory viruses from infecting cells in vitro.

Provides high coverage which lasts

NoriZite® Nasal Spray is an easy-to-use protective nasal spray with a unique dual-polymer matrix formulation that targets one of the main sites of infection – the nose.

The spray works by combining two naturally derived biopolymers:

  • iota-carrageenan, which has a natural ability to anchor to virus particles and hold them within the sprayed layer

  • gellan gum, which enhances sprayability and mucoadhesion, helping the formulation spread as a fine mist and adhere to the nasal mucosa

Together, these two polymers form a highly viscous, gel-like fluid that produces a fine mist or “plume” rather than a concentrated “jet”. This helps to avoid local build-up, which can cause discomfort or a “runny” or dripping nose, and instead lays down a more even coating.

This dual-polymer matrix technology allows NoriZite® to provide up to six times more surface coverage than conventional nasal sprays and to remain detectable in the nose for up to six hours after application, outperforming many standard nasal sprays on the market.

Physically traps the virus and protects the cells

Triple action protection

The NoriZite® dual-polymer matrix delivers three complementary actions:

  • Wide spread for maximum protection – the fluid-gel plume reaches a large proportion of the nasal surface.

  • Thick protective layer – the structured, viscous gel forms a physical barrier that helps prevent viruses from contacting the nasal lining.

  • Anchors viruses in the spray layer – iota-carrageenan helps bind and hold virus particles in the gel so they can be removed naturally via mucociliary clearance.

By combining these effects, NoriZite® provides a non-specific, drug-free physical barrier that helps protect nasal cells from a wide range of respiratory viruses and variants, as well as pollen and particulate pollution.

Completely neutralises infection (in vitro)

Laboratory studies carried out by researchers at the Healthcare Technologies Institute at the University of Birmingham showed that the unique dual-polymer NoriZite® formulation can block SARS-CoV-2 from infecting cells in culture. These in vitro experiments demonstrated complete inhibition of infection for up to 48 hours when virus was exposed to the gellan–carrageenan blend.

Emerging research from the same team has further shown that the NoriZite® barrier can physically block the diffusion of different SARS-CoV-2 variants. In the presence of a NoriZite® nasal spray layer, no infection of the underlying cells was observed, whereas in the absence of this layer, all virus strains diffused through and infected the cells, leading to cell death.

These findings suggest that the dual-polymer matrix technology at the heart of NoriZite® can prevent viruses from reaching and infecting local cells by providing a powerful, non-specific physical barrier.

In laboratory studies, this dual-polymer matrix has been shown to be highly effective in blocking airborne viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and other respiratory viruses from infecting cells in vitro.

Fluorescence micrographs of the cells following incubation with viral suspension. In cells treated with a layer of NoriZite™ Nasal Spray, no infection was observed for any variant of SARS-CoV-2.

NoriZite™Nasal Spray, with blend of natural ingredients, demonstrated high level of cell tolerability.

Fluorescence micrographs show reduced cell numbers in cells treated with a layer of non-carrageenan-based nasal sprays on the market, following viral infection. White dots indicate living cell nucleus.

NoriZite ™ Nasal Spray, with a high viscosity carrageenan formula, exhibited excellent shielding ability to block virus infection, compared to another low-viscosity carrageenan-based nasal spray. The more viscous NoriZite™ means that it can trap the virus more effectively as it cannot diffuse through it.

Fluorescence micrographs show no infection was observed in the presence of the viscous NoriZite™ Nasal Spray layer whilst some infection (green dots) was observed in another carrageenan-based nasal spray with lower viscosity.

Why dual-polymer matrix technology?

NoriZite® is built on a dual-polymer matrix technology that combines gellan gum and iota-carrageenan to create a structured fluid-gel barrier in the nose. This design offers several key advantages:

  • Superior coverage and retention – gellan gum improves sprayability and mucoadhesion, so the formulation spreads as a fine plume and stays on the nasal mucosa rather than running off quickly.

  • Strong physical trapping of pathogens and particles – iota-carrageenan helps to anchor and hold virus particles within the gel layer, while the three-dimensional matrix also captures pollen and particulate pollution.

  • Non-specific, drug-free protection – because the mechanism is physical rather than drug-based, the barrier can act against SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses, regardless of variant, and can be used regularly during high-risk seasons.

Why a nasal barrier matters in viral co-infections

Recent research in high-impact journals, including Nature Reviews Microbiology, has highlighted that respiratory viruses such as influenza, RSV, rhinoviruses and coronaviruses often co-circulate and co-infect the same person. In some combinations, this can increase overall viral load and inflammation, making illness more severe. The review also emphasises that what happens in the nose and upper airways during the earliest phase of infection plays a critical role in determining the outcome.

NoriZite® Nasal Spray is designed precisely for this first line of defence. By forming a long-lasting, gel-like layer across the nasal surface, its dual-polymer matrix (iota-carrageenan and gellan gum) physically traps inhaled particles and supports the nose’s natural clearance mechanisms, without the use of drugs. This non-specific, barrier-based mode of action makes NoriZite® a relevant tool when multiple respiratory viruses are circulating at the same time.

In practical terms, NoriZite® is designed to:

  • Act at one of the main entry sites for respiratory viruses – the nasal cavity

  • Provide a durable, non-specific barrier when several viruses are in seasonal circulation

  • Complement vaccination, ventilation, masks and hand hygiene, rather than replace them

The science behind the spray

Hear Professor Liam Grover from the Healthcare Technologies Institute at the University of Birmingham explain the scientific research behind the NoriZite® dual-polymer matrix formulation and how this structured fluid-gel barrier was developed.

References

  1. Moakes, R. et al. Formulation of a Composite Nasal Spray Enabling Enhanced Surface Coverage and Prophylaxis of SARS-COV-2. Advanced Materials. 2021; 33(26): 2008304.

  2. Data on file, Birmingham Biotech Ltd.

  3. Robinson, T. et al. Low Acyl Gellan as an Excipient to Improve the Sprayability and Mucoadhesion of Iota Carrageenan in a Nasal Spray to Prevent Infection With SARS-CoV-2. Frontiers in Medical Technology. 2021; 3: 687681.

  4. Nasal swab samples analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with UV–Vis spectroscopy. Study conducted by LabWide Solutions HK Ltd.

  5. Deol, P. & Miura, T. A. Respiratory viral coinfections: interactions, mechanisms and clinical implications. Nature Reviews Microbiology. 2025. Epub ahead of print.