In yet another medical breakthrough made by Israeli scientists, researchers from Tel Aviv University developed a new technology that they say will allow controlled encapsulation and release of molecules by exposure to UV light.
Israel Startup Nation may be known for its high-tech companies, but it is also known as a center for medical research and development. For example, earlier this month scientists also from Tel Aviv University determined that medication used to prevent anxiety, stress and inflammation markedly reduced the risk of developing metastases after the operation to remove the tumor. And in November, a group of researchers, led by Professor Yaakov Nahmias, found a new mechanism of antibiotics-induced kidney damage, never identified before. They developed a bionic kidney chip that uses sensors in living human tissue to discover a new mechanism of antibiotic toxicity.
Will you offer us a hand? Every gift, regardless of size, fuels our future.
Your critical contribution enables us to maintain our independence from shareholders or wealthy owners, allowing us to keep up reporting without bias. It means we can continue to make Jewish Business News available to everyone.
You can support us for as little as $1 via PayPal at [email protected].
Thank you.
As for this latest breakthrough, efficient encapsulation of molecules is considered a major technological challenge, say the researchers. The new technology, which allows for efficient encapsulation and high loading capacity of molecules, might address this need. The researchers estimate that the technology will lead to further development of delivery systems for controlled release of biomolecules and drugs in the body by external stimuli, using light.
The research was led by Ph.D. student Itai Katzir and supervised by Dr. Ayala Lampel from Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research at the Wise Faculty of Life Sciences at Tel Aviv University The study was published in the prestigious journal “Advanced Materials.”
The researchers explain that the new technology is inspired by viral compartments formed by the measles virus. Following infection of the host cell, the virus forms compartments that host all the reactions involved in the formation of new viral particles, a process which gives these compartments their name: viral factories. Recent studies show that these viral factories are in fact dynamic and liquid-like structures that are formed inside the host cell through a process called liquid-liquid phase separation.
Inspired by the viral protein which is responsible for the formation of these factories, the researchers designed a peptide (short minimalistic protein) which forms compartments that resemble viral factories for encapsulation of biomolecules. In addition, the researchers incorporated a unique element to the peptide sequence that enables a control of the encapsulation and release of molecules by irradiating the compartments using UV light.
Dr. Lampel explains: “our goal was to engineer liquid-like compartments from a complex of peptide and RNA molecules that will enable efficient encapsulation of various biomolecules while keeping their native structure. The designed peptide and RNA form liquid-like compartments that resemble viral factories. We further developed these compartments to be stimuli-responsive by incorporating a protecting group to the peptide sequence that is cleaved following UV irradiation. The peptide with the photocleavable protecting group forms compartments with RNA, that have higher encapsulation efficiency for various molecules compared to compartments without the protecting group. We showed that by exposing the compartments to UV light and releasing the protecting group, we can control the release of encapsulated biomolecules.”
“Another unique property of this system is the high permeability and loading capacity of the encapsulated molecules, which is limited in part of the current technologies. Thus, this technology opens opportunities for biomedical and biotechnological applications including encapsulation, delivery and release of drugs, protein, antibodies or other therapeutic molecules,” adds Dr. Lampel.
