Scientists develop nanoparticle that could treat peanut allergy

Peanut allergy is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide with symptoms that cause itching, swelling, abdominal pain, vomiting, nasal congestion and even anaphylactic shock – the latter can be fatal in the case. Fortunately, in a study published in the scientific journal ACS Nano, Researchers at the University of California (UCLA) demonstrate the development of nanoparticles that can prevent allergy attacks. peanut.

Using the messenger RNA (mRNA) technology used in some vaccines against Covid-19, scientists have developed a nanoparticle that delivers mRNA to specific cells in the liver. Upon arrival at their final destination, cells are trained to tolerate peanut proteins, thereby reducing allergy symptoms.

As the study explains, UCLA immunologists chose the liver because of the organ’s ability to take up different substances and the antigen-presenting cells responsible for training the immune system to tolerate foreign proteins; In this case, peanuts.

In tests with lab mice, the nanoparticles were able to reverse peanut allergy and even prevent the condition from developing in some cases. The researchers observed that the treated mice produced much milder symptoms than the untreated ones.

The end of peanut allergy?

“As far as we can learn, mRNA has never been used for an allergic disease. We’ve shown that our platform can work to soothe peanut allergies, and we believe it can do the same for other allergens and autoimmune conditions in food and medicine,” said André Neil, in a statement.

The team is exploring the possibility of using the nanoparticle to treat type 1 diabetes, as well as believing the method could help treat other allergies and autoimmune disorders.