Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 10, 2026

Validation of Therapeutic Agent Conjugation to Polyvinyl Alcohol-Coated Medical Devices
Published on: November 29, 2024
Oral Delivery of Semaglutide and Tirzepatide Using Milk-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles
Yuefei Zhang1,2,3, Jianyi Han1,2,3, Wei Wu1,2,3
1Research Center for Industries of the Future and Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences Westlake University Hangzhou Zhejiang China.
None:
Therapeutic proteins and peptides have revolutionized modern biomedicine, but their oral delivery is limited by gastrointestinal degradation and barriers. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), which are resistant to biochemical degradation and capable of traversing mucus and cellular barriers, hold great promise as next-generation oral delivery vehicles. Oral semaglutide, the first approved oral GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA), employs vesicle-mediated transcellular transport, highlighting the potential of sEVs as an effective delivery vehicle. In this study, we demonstrate the successful oral delivery of two GLP-1RAs, semaglutide and previously unexplored tirzepatide, using milk-derived sEVs. Both peptides were efficiently loaded onto sEVs in vitro, and their oral administration effectively reduced blood glucose levels in diabetic db/db mice. Compared with the current SNAC technology, which is limited exclusively to semaglutide, our sEV platform provides broader applicability and versatility for oral peptide drug delivery.
Related Concept Videos
Drug Delivery: Enteral Route
Insulin Formulations: Types and Delivery
Short-acting insulins are divided into...
Drug Delivery: Overview
Enteral delivery involves administering drugs directly through swallowing, sublingual placement, or buccal application. Orally administered drugs predominantly navigate the...
Drug Delivery: Parenteral Route
There are three primary parenteral routes: intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and subcutaneous (SC). The IV route introduces the drug directly into the bloodstream, ensuring immediate action. The IM route...
Drug Delivery: Miscellaneous Routes
Oral inhalation and nasal sprays swiftly transfer drugs across the respiratory epithelium's mucosal layer. Inhaled glucocorticoids and bronchodilators directly target lung conditions such as asthma, while fluticasone nasal spray mitigates allergic rhinitis.
Transdermal patches transport drugs...
Glucagon-like Receptor Agonists
GLP-1, when administered in high doses intravenously, triggers insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon release, slows gastric emptying, reduces food intake, and restores normal insulin secretion. However, its rapid inactivation by...

