In this MEDICA-tradefair.com interview, Professor Lorenz Meinel describes the structure of the capsule his task force developed, explains the diseases it is intended for and reveals the future plans for a startup company.
Prof. Meinel, your research team is developing a capsule designed to release therapeutic gas expressly in the stomach or intestines. What is this capsule made of?
Prof. Lorenz Meinel: The capsule shell has a membrane that is permeable to gases but contains dissolved substances. Only the therapeutic CO is released this way. Meanwhile, degradation products remain encased and are later eliminated. This makes the system very safe. In the past, it was standard to use processes with a lower safety profile.
How can you ensure that the gas is only released in the stomach or intestines?
Meinel: Researchers have studied so-called CO-releasing molecules (CORM) for many years. They represent a major field of research in chemistry. This typically involves metal complexes with bound CO and consists of a solid in powder form. This type of metal is hazardous. Ruthenium is used, for example, which can be toxic. The primary objective is to deliver CO to the right place in the body. Our capsules have two compartments. One compartment contains an aqueous solution of a solvent, the other contains the powder. Prior to use, the capsule is slightly squeezed, thus piercing the membrane, which separates the two compartments. The solution comes in contact with the metal complex and produces CO. The patient swallows the capsule, which produces the desired gas in the stomach or intestines. Via the inner workings of the capsule, we can control whether the gas is produced in the stomach or intestines. ...
Read the complete interview with Prof. Lorenz Meinel at MEDICA-tradefair.com!