Wheat and Rye Bran Hydrogels Enable Targeted Colon Drug Delivery

Wheat and rye bran fibers could soon help transport targeted colon disease treatments through the human gut, according to a new study from researchers in Sweden.

Medical treatments for conditions like ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and colorectal cancer require precise delivery to diseased lower intestine tissue. Most current medications rely on coatings that dissolve when acidity levels reach pH 7, but varying stomach acid, digestive enzymes, and fluid volumes often trigger an early release before the drugs reach their target.

To solve this, researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology explored alternative triggers using an enzyme found among colon bacteria called β-xylanase, which naturally digests plant fiber. The team created a hydrogel using Arabinoxylan extracted from wheat and rye bran to encapsulate model small molecules and proteins safely.

Rye arabinoxylan hydrogels fully retained a model protein and then released a substantial amount when triggered by the gut bacterial β-xylanase enzyme. While further research is needed to determine if the gel can survive the stomach and small intestine during in vivo digestion, the material offers a promising bridge between agricultural side streams and targeted medicine delivery.

“We believe this could one day have applications for oral delivery of drugs or probiotics to the gut, for example to treat inflammatory symptoms,” said Francisco Vilaplana, Director of the PLENTY Research Center and Professor in Glycoscience at KTH Royal Institute of Technology.

Vilaplana said that rye gel proved particularly effective at retaining the model protein. The research team also experimented with techniques like freeze-drying to fine-tune the performance of the hydrogels.

The study was co-authored by KTH PhD student Carl Rämgård and Associate Professor Lauren McKee. Funding support for the research was provided by Svenska Forskningsrådet (Formas) and PLENTY, which operates as the Centre for Circular and Symbiotic Food Provisioning.