Revolutionizing Healthcare: How Milk is Powering Targeted Drug Delivery Innovations

Innovative Drug-Delivery Technology

A couple of professors from the University of Nebraska have launched a startup named Minovacca, aiming to introduce a groundbreaking method for delivering drugs and therapeutics directly to targeted areas in the human body using an unexpected ingredient: milk.

The Power of Milk

Regular milk is proving to be a powerful tool in the biopharmaceutical field. Previous innovations have included genetically modified cows that produce milk with human insulin and antibodies against HIV. Now, the focus is on milk's exosomes—nano-sized structures that can transport vital materials like proteins and genetic information.

How It Works

The team, led by Janos Zempleni and Jiantao Guo, has developed a technology that modifies these exosomes for target-specific drug delivery. By attaching three specialized peptides to the exosome membrane, they ensure that the exosomes can hone in on specific sites in the body, evade immune responses, and enhance their survival once inside target cells.

Jiantao Guo (left) and Janos Zempleni, founders of Minovacca

Addressing Chemotherapy's Side Effects

Traditional chemotherapy treatments often harm healthy cells alongside cancer cells, leading to severe side effects. Minovacca's technology aims to minimize this collateral damage by ensuring drugs are delivered directly to the intended targets.

Future Prospects

Besides treating common diseases, this technology could also facilitate the delivery of gene editing tools and other therapeutics. The team is working with NUtech Ventures to license the technology, and a patent has already been filed.

A Mission Beyond Profit

Zempleni emphasizes that the primary goal is not financial gain but rather to help people. He stated, "If I had a choice between making $10 million in the company or saving 10 million lives, I would go for saving the lives."

Source: University of Nebraska-Lincoln