SIP: breast milk nanoparticle permeability phenomenon discovered instead of shots

Imagine whether antibodies, proteins such as insulin, and even COVID-19 and influenza vaccines can be taken orally via injections. This vision is closer than ever, according to a new study by Technion Researchers published in the Journal of Controlled Release.

The study was led by Associate Professor Asaf Ginger and Ph.D. A candidate for the Wolfson Faculty of Chemical Engineering at the Institute of Technology, Israel. Their goal: to enable oral consumption of vaccines and drugs inspired by the unique properties of breast milk.

“Breast milk is an incredible biofluid,” explained Professor Ginger, who began working two years ago to develop artificial particles called “milcosomes” based on breast milk.

“This liquid consumed by babies contains a wide range of essential compounds. To affect the health of the baby, these compounds must pass from the digestive system through the bloodstream from the intestinal system to the effect of the baby’s health. There is.”

The intestinal barrier is a large protective layer that separates the inside of the intestine from the bloodstream. It consists of an epithelial cell layer and a mucus layer, and serves as an important selective barrier that allows important nutrients to pass through while preventing harmful toxins from entering the bloodstream.

“If a compound in breast milk can overcome this barrier, it means that breast milk contains a ‘key’. “What are these keys? That’s what we aimed to uncover in this study.”

The technical researchers’ paper reveals the answer through the phenomenon they discover: The key to nanoparticle transport across the intestinal wall is in breast milk proteins, named by the technological scientist, the human breast milk protein corona. It creates an effect. This “corona” forms a protein coating around the nanoparticles, allowing them to pass through the intestinal layer, and depends on the charge of the nanoparticles. The researchers confirmed findings in both human enterocyte lines and pig intestinal samples.

Breast milk is the main thing and is often the only source of nutrition for newborns. It is a complex and dynamic liquid tailored to the needs of the infant and provides enzymes, growth factors, hormones, antibodies, nucleic acids, extracellular vesicles, carbohydrates, lipids (fat molecules), vitamins, minerals, and cells. These components are essential for the development of the digestive brain, immune system function, and balance of the microbiota.

Unlike formulas, breast milk is not uniform. Its composition is very different and is influenced by multiple maternal factors. In recent years, awareness of the medical benefits of breast milk has increased and is now recognized as a natural remedy for a variety of conditions, particularly intestinal disease.

This study compared breast milk, milk, and infant formula and revealed that breast milk had the highest effect on the permeability of intestinal barriers. Due to the events of October 7th, most of Israeli breast milk donations were allocated to orphans. As a result, the research team launched a local donation initiative within the Technion community to obtain the required samples.