Our former PhD student and colleague, Dávid Juriga (Bionanomaterial Technology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Stockholm University), will hold an institute seminar on Nov 17, 2026, at 10:30 AM in our library (EOK, 2nd floor) titled Roles of Interstitial Albumin in the Subcutaneous Delivery of Therapeutic Peptides. All interested are warmly welcome!

Abstract: Subcutaneous administration of biotherapeutics is increasingly favored for better safety profile, improved stability, and patient compliance compared with intravenous administration. Despite these advantages, the roles of extracellular matrix (ECM) components and interstitial proteins, particularly albumin, in the mechanisms governing therapeutic pharmacokinetics and bioavailability remain poorly understood. We present a versatile and customizable hydrogel platform resembling native ECM in composition, charge density, and microstructure, enabling systematic investigation of transport mechanisms in the subcutaneous space. Using this platform, we propose a role for albumin beyond that of a transport vehicle for drugs. Our results show that reversible peptide-albumin binding can both remove peptides bound to the ECM biopolymers and modulate peptide diffusivity and distribution, as albumin was found to have an affinity for matrix glycosaminoglycans. For cationic peptides, albumin had a major influence on diffusivity and distribution in the matrix, with more pronounced effects over time in vitro. These findings, complemented by in vivo observations, highlight realistic ECM structure and albumin inclusion as key considerations for predictive in vitro subcutaneous models.

Related publication: Roles of Interstitial Albumin in the Subcutaneous Delivery of Therapeutic Peptides