Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed a new system for drug release: micro-hollow bodies made of mucin and polydopamine. These enable a controlled release of active ingredients to hard-to-reach parts of the body such as the oral mucosa or joint cartilage. The results show a wide range of possible applications in biomedicine.

The hollow bodies consist of mucin, the main component of mucus, and polydopamine, an adhesive polymer. Tests on animal tissue samples show that polydopamine enables strong adhesion to difficult surfaces such as oral mucosa or cartilage. Mucin ensures adjustable pore sizes and acts as a natural lubricant, which can prevent friction damage in joints, for example. It also protects injured tissue, for example in the mouth.

The production is simple and scalable: A core is coated with mucin and polydopamine and then dissolved, creating a dimensionally stable hollow body. The porous surface allows loading with active ingredients that are partially sealed by an additional layer, such as silver ions. This allows for a slow release of the active ingredient. The effect of the hollow bodies depends on the sealing material and the biological environment: silver ions promote cell-destroying properties, useful in tumors, while polydopamine without silver ions has an anti-inflammatory effect, for example in osteoarthritis or chronic wounds.

The combination of mucin and polydopamine provides a flexible system that can protect or destroy cells, depending on the application. It is easy to manufacture and customizable, which sets it apart from traditional drug delivery systems. The development opens up new perspectives for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, wounds or tumors.

Original Paper:

Multi‐Functional Polydopamine‐Mucin Hollow Particles Provide Tunable Shell Permeability, ROS Scavenging, Tissue Adhesion, and Lubricity for Biomedical Applications – Fan – 2025 – Small – Wiley Online Library

Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR

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