SScientists have created a synthetic intestinal wall that is designed to treat certain digestive diseases or make it easier for the body to take certain medications – all contained in a solution that can be swallowed in one drink one day.
The small intestine is involved in a wide range of health conditions – from lactose intolerance to parasitic infections – and also plays a role in drug processing. The new solution adheres to the lining of the small intestine and can be loaded with medication. The researchers found that the solution not only could reach and clog the intestine, but remained stable there for one day. The evidence from concept research, conducted in pigs, rats, and human tissues, was published Wednesday in Science Translational Medicine.
“[This] can now be used to perform … really interesting experiments, such as a platform technology that can address various unnecessary needs. And it’s just a matter of time and resources to fully realize the potential of this technology, ”said Jeffrey Karp, a biomedical engineer and professor at Harvard Medical School. Carp was not involved in the new study, but is affiliated with Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, where several authors of the study also work.
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The team – which also included scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology – first began creating a new, simpler way for children to take their medications.
“We wanted to develop a fluid system that is easier to take compared to tablets or capsules, but had improved capabilities,” said Giovanni Traverso, a professor of mechanical engineering at MIT and author of the new study.
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The result: a gastrointestinal synthetic epithelial lining system, like GSEL, which is a mixture of dopamine and small amounts of hydrogen peroxide. This solution passes through the esophagus, stomach and reaches the small intestine.
Certain cells in the small intestine have high levels of catalase, an enzyme that breaks down hydrogen peroxide to release oxygen. These oxygen bubbles convert dopamine into a substance with strong gluing properties, which helps the whole system adhere to the small intestine.
In previous studies, researchers have developed tissue adhesives based on a similar concept to that behind GSEL. But they have faced the challenges of keeping these materials to the gastrointestinal tract, given that it is so dynamic. The current research has overcome this challenge by “creating a micro-laboratory within the GI tract,” Karp said.
“Very few people would think about how you can make a polymer in your body through your own enzyme or your own molecular chemical like dopamine,” said Junwei Li, the first author of the study.
The researchers tested the system in pig models to see if it could have a therapeutic effect on lactose intolerance and abnormal glucose uptake. GSEL had a positive effect on both, suggesting that it could be further investigated as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, obesity, or lactose intolerance.
The researchers also looked at how GSEL could be used to deliver medicines. They test the system with praziquantel, a drug used to treat schistosomiasis, a condition caused by a parasitic flatworm. The medicine is taken three times a day. However, the researchers found that the GSEL layer significantly prolonged the half-life of the drug, meaning that the drug was slowly absorbed into the body and may not need to be taken as often.
The researchers also tested the layer on human small intestine tissues and found similar results as those seen in pigs.
“It was reassuring to know that there were no significant adverse effects,” Traverso said.
But there is still a need for more safety research before tests are moved to human trials. “We want to evaluate the potential effects of this formulation so that when it comes to a large population of human trials, it works uniformly and robustly,” Li said.
