Boosting systemic absorption of peptides with a bioinspired buccal-stretching patch

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Biopharmaceuticals

Background:

• Biopharmaceuticals like proteins and peptides are effective but require parenteral administration due to poor oral absorption.
• Existing oral peptide formulations with enhancers have limited success.
• Current invasive methods for gastrointestinal drug delivery lack proven safety and robustness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an innovative technology for enhanced oral drug absorption.
• To overcome the epithelial barrier for macromolecular drugs.
• To create a safe and effective platform for oral peptide delivery.

Main Methods:

• Engineered a self-applicable suction patch inspired by octopus suckers.
• Combined noninvasive stretching of buccal mucosa with permeation enhancers.
• Tested the technology in canine models and a first-in-human study.

Main Results:

• Achieved bioavailability up to two orders of magnitude higher for desmopressin compared to commercial tablets in dogs.
• Demonstrated systemic exposure comparable to oral semaglutide without further optimization.
• Confirmed dosage form acceptability and tolerability in 40 healthy participants.

Conclusions:

• The suction patch technology effectively enhances oral drug absorption.
• This platform offers a simple, noninvasive, and potentially translatable approach for oral peptide delivery.
• The technology shows promise for improving patient compliance and therapeutic outcomes for macromolecular drugs.