Hydrogel enables fridge-free stabilisation of protein-based therapeutics without additives
The storage and distribution of vital protein therapeutics presents several complex challenges. Many medicines and vaccines need stable, temperature-controlled environments and chemical additives (excipients) such as preservatives to keep them effective and safe for use.
This requires cold storage infrastructure and reliable energy sources which not only puts the responsibility on the user but causes accessibility and affordability challenges, especially in developing countries where resources are limited.
Now researchers from the UK Universities of Manchester, Glasgow and Warwick have designed the world’s first hydrogel technology for the storage and distribution of crucial medicines and other biopharmaceuticals without the need for refrigeration or chemical additives. The aim is to provide more robust and equitable storage and delivery systems, benefitting everyone worldwide.
The novel hydrogel cargo-system paves the way for affordable, energy efficient and user-friendly ways of supplying patients and clinics with vital protein-based drugs for health conditions like diabetes and cancer. The hydrogel also offers exciting potential for diagnostics and biotechnology.
Published in the journal Nature on 24 July 2024, the research involved a series of tests to show how the hydrogel works on two proteins: insulin to treat diabetes, and beta-galactosidase, an enzyme with life science and biotechnology applications. Synchrotron science played an important role in the early development and testing of the hydrogel using Diamond’s I22 (Fig.1) and B21 (Fig.2) beamlines.
The research was supported with funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme, the European Research Council, the Royal Society, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the University of Glasgow, and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
Read more on Diamond website
Image: Initial gel studies. Images exemplifying the syringe filter release protocol for gels. The gel is first loaded in a syringe fitted with a 0.22 μm filter. The gel is passed through the filter by gentle extrusion, releasing a clear solution. a.u., arbitrary units; CD, circular dichroism.