Many treatments, from pain relievers to medications for chronic conditions, share a common side effect: Prolonged exposure can damage the liver.

Groundbreaking research by Tel Aviv University scientists may pave the way for liver-friendly medications. They have discovered a method to transport lipid nanoparticles encapsulating messenger RNA directly to the intestines, bypassing the liver.

Led by post-doctoral fellow Dr. Riccardo Rampado and Vice President for R&D Prof. Dan Peer—a pioneer in mRNA therapeutics and director of the Laboratory of Precision Nano-Medicine at the Shmunis School of Biomedical and Cancer Research—the revolutionary study was featured on the cover of the prestigious journal Advanced Science.

Explaining the process, Peer stated, “Everything injected into the bloodstream eventually ends up in the liver—that’s just how our anatomy works.”

He continued, “This poses two challenges. First, drugs intended to target specific cells in particular organs may be toxic to the liver. Second, we don’t want drugs to get ‘stuck’ in the liver.”

“Ideally, the drug would reach the target organ first, with any remnants breaking down in the liver afterward. We discovered that altering the proportions of lipids in the nanoparticles determines their destination in the bloodstream. This is a general phenomenon, meaning it works regardless of the specific lipids used, making it a significant breakthrough,” he explained.

The study tested nanoparticle delivery to the intestine, potentially offering new treatments for conditions such as Crohn’s disease and colitis. However, the technology could be adapted to target other organs and deliver therapies for various conditions.

The process involves adjusting the lipid composition of the nanoparticles, allowing them to float through the bloodstream like oil on water and bypass the liver, which typically breaks down lipids.

Peer added, “Now, we are exploring further refinements to target the pancreas and other organs by fine-tuning the lipid nanoparticle composition. This direct delivery method for mRNA drugs opens up vast possibilities for developing more precise and effective therapies than ever before.”

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