Intranasal delivery of HMGB1-binding heptamer peptide confers a robust neuroprotection in the postischemic brain

► HBHP is a heptamer peptide selected as a HMGB1 binding peptide using a phage display approach. ► HBHP was confirmed to bind A box region of HMGB1 in a pull-down assay. ► HBHP suppressed HMGB1-mediated neuronal cell death in primary cortical cultures. ► Intranasally delivered HBHP has a robust neuroprotective effect in the ischemic brain.