My summer project is to work on the individual release of mucoadhesive patches. Currently, injection of the peptides is the most effective method to deliver proteins. Mucoadhesive patches are intestinal patches that was developed to orally delivery peptides. Oral delivery is noninvasive and patient friendly compared to injection. There are 2 main barriers that make the oral delivery of peptides difficult. One being the presence of acid and enzymes in the stomach that readily degrade the proteins. When proteins lose their structure, they lose their function. Even if the proteins safely get to the small intestine, where nutrients are absorbed, the protein molecules are too big to pass through the intestinal wall. The mucoadhesive patch is made to adhere to the intestinal wall and force the small intestine to absorb all the drug that is loaded on the patch. These patches will be delivered to the small intestine using a enteric-coated gelatin capsule. Enteric coating protects the capsules from degrading in acid in the stomach, but later dissolves in a neutral pH in the small intestine releasing the patches.

The problem with mucoadhesive patches are that they become very adhesive when they are introduced to mucous. When the capsules start degrading, water leaks in. As a result, the patches stick to each other before they are released into the intestine. My project is to figure out a way to get these patches to have them released from the capsules individually.

I always thought research was an area for “smart” people. After participating in research for almost one year and a half, I came to realize that anyone can participate in research as long as they have a commitment and passion for science. Participating in research early in my undergraduate career is one of the best decisions I have made.