Intestinal Fc receptor-targeted nanomedicines boost semaglutide effect in type 2 diabetes

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by inadequate secretion of insulin from pancreatic β cells, leading to impaired glucose tolerance (1). The blood glucose levels of diabetic patients can be controlled with the oral administration of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog, semaglutide; however, its modest bioavailability is still a concern (2). Hence, the main goal of this work is to enhance the oral delivery of semaglutide by incorporating into polymeric nanoparticles (NPs), surface-functionalized with ligands targeting the intestinal neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn).

Andreia Sofia Barros – Pos-doctoral Fellow, Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, Portugal; Cecília Cristelo – Pos-doctoral Fellow, Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, Portugal; Mahya Hosseini – PhD Candidate, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands; Catarina Pacheco – PhD Candidate, Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, Portugal; Instituto Universitário de Ciências da Saúde (IUCS-CESPU), Portugal.; Hélder Almeida Santos – Head of department Biomaterials & Biomedical Technology (BBT), University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands; Bruno Sarmento – Principal Investigator of Nanomedicines and Translation Drug Delivery Group; Invited Associate Professor, Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, Portugal; Instituto Universitário de Ciências da Saúde (IUCS-CESPU), Portugal.; Sven van Ijzendoorn – Head of Intracellular Trafficking & Cell Polarity Group; Professor of Cell Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands; Juliana Viegas – Junior Researcher, Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, Portugal