Nanotechnology Paves the Way for Oral Insulin Therapy

01. 04. 2026 

The oral delivery of peptide drugs like insulin has long been a major challenge in modern pharmacology. An interdisciplinary team led by Freddy Kleitz and Giorgia Del Favero recently published a study demonstrating how mesoporous silica nanoparticles can serve as smart nanocarriers to safely guide sensitive biomolecules through the barriers of the gastrointestinal tract.

Millions of people worldwide living with diabetes rely on daily insulin injections. The reason is simple: if insulin were swallowed as a conventional tablet, the peptide would be rapidly destroyed by digestive enzymes and the acidic environment of the stomach. In addition, the molecule is poorly soluble and too large to efficiently cross the intestinal barrier and reach the bloodstream.

Silica Nanocarriers as Protective Shields for Peptide Delivery

A research team led by Prof. Freddy Kleitz (Institute of Functional Materials and Catalysis) and Ass.-Prof. Giorgia Del Favero (Institute of Food Chemistry and Toxicology) has now developed a novel delivery system that addresses this problem. The team used dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles—characterized by radially oriented, large pores and high surface area—as insulin carriers, designed to protect the bioactive peptide within their structure and transport it through the gastrointestinal tract.

By incorporating a protein excipient, the researchers obtained pH-responsive tablets that prevent premature release of insulin during its passage through the stomach, shield it from enzymatic degradation, and enable controlled release in the intestine, where absorption can occur.

“We could confirm that confining insulin within silica mesopores increased its solubility, while tailored particle functionalization improved its diffusion through the intestinal mucus layer and supported insulin transport across the intestinal barrier,” explains Freddy Kleitz. Insulin’s bioactivity remained intact after delivery, as demonstrated by activation of insulin-responsive signaling pathways in vitro and by reduced glucose levels in diabetic mice.

Significance for Future Medicine

Beyond its therapeutic potential, the platform also provides a valuable tool for studying peptide performance in complex biological environments. “By using advanced cell-based systems that more closely resemble in vivo conditions, we can gain valuable insights into the behavior and interaction of peptide drugs within the body,” Giorgia Del Favero adds.

The study also underscores the strength of interdisciplinary collaboration. It is the outcome of a long-term joint effort between the Del Favero and Kleitz teams, supported by scientists from the Faculty’s Analytical, Biological, and Organic Chemistry institutes, as well as the Joint Microbiome and Joint Metabolome Facilities of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna.

The project further benefited from Dr. Claudia Iriarte-Mesa’s research stay at the University of California, Davis, supported by DoSChem’s International Exchange Program. “This project provided a valuable opportunity to combine materials chemistry with advanced cell-based and in vivo studies, helping to bridge fundamental research and practical application,” says Claudia Iriarte-Mesa, for whom this work constituted an essential part of her PhD research on the oral delivery of peptide drugs and biologics using mesoporous nanocarriers.

While further testing is required before clinical application in humans, this work represents a significant milestone and highlights the potential of integrating materials design with bioactivity profiling to advance more patient-friendly oral delivery strategies for peptide therapeutics.

Original publication:

C. Iriarte-Mesa, E. Juère, A. Bileck, T. Kremsmayr, M.L. Goodson, A. Ehrlich, A. Hodžić, M. Kunert, C. Gerner, H. Kählig, D. Marko, M. Muttenthaler, D. Berry, G. Del Favero, F. Kleitz.
Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles-Based Formulations for Enhanced Oral Delivery of Peptide Drugs: A Case Study on Insulin. In Small (2026): e13347. 

DOI 10.1002/smll.202513347

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