Harnessing the Potential of Human Breast Milk to Boost Intestinal Permeability for Nanoparticles and Macromolecules

The intricate interplay between human breast milk, nanoparticles, and macromolecules holds promise for innovative nutritional delivery strategies. Compared to bovine milk and infant formula, this study explores human breast milk's role in modulating intestinal permeability and its impact on nanoparticle and macromolecule transport. Comparative analysis with bovine milk and infant formula reveals significant elevations in permeability with human breast milk, accompanied by a decrease in transepithelial electrical resistance, suggesting enhanced paracellular transport. Mechanistically, human breast milk reduces Zonula occludens-1 levels, suggesting a regulatory role in intestinal barrier function. Through in vitro and ex vivo evaluations, we aim to understand better the mechanisms behind enhanced permeability and how human breast milk affects nanoparticle physicochemical properties, potentially modulating their behavior. Specifically, human breast milk improves the intestinal permeability of liposomes in a porcine intestinal model, with associated changes in the composition of milk proteins corona related to liposome charge. These findings underscore the unexploited potential of human breast milk in facilitating transport across the intestinal barrier, offering novel avenues for human nutritional delivery and therapeutic interventions.