Currently, liposomes (artificially synthesised vesicles) are widely used as carriers for a variety of molecules in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. In the clinical applications, for instance, they are employed to encapsulate a range of substances, such as antibiotics, proteins, genetic material, vitamins and anti-cancer drugs. While liposomes offer significant potential for drug and nutrient delivery, they also face several limitations, including instability, high cost, potential toxicity, inefficiency in controlled release, complex manufacturing processes, and non-specific targeting. Current research efforts are focused on overcoming these challenges to improve the efficacy and safety of liposomes by developing increasingly high-performance vesicles. In particular, plant-derived nanoparticles are garnering increasing attention due to their all-natural origin. These eco-friendly, sustainable and biocompatible materials show great promise for the development of next-generation transport carriers. Additionally, plant nanovesicles naturally contain bioactive compounds (phytocompounds), that are widely used for therapeutic, cosmetic and nutraceutical purposes. The goal of this patent is to create a platform for the generation of new nanovesicles derived from plant cells for nutraceutical, cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications.
Our technology revolutionizes the field of nanovesicles by introducing an innovative platform that clearly distinguishes them from those currently available. Unlike liposomes, extracellular vesicles, or those obtained through the destruction and homogenization of plant tissue, our nanovesicles are produced from expandable and engineerable plant cells, creating a scalable, sustainable, and reproducible solution. A key aspect of our approach is the cultivation of plant cells, which allows for a continuously available pool through cryopreservation, making the process highly scalable and accessible. Plant cells can be cultured in artificial media enriched with active ingredients, stimulated to produce high quantities of bioactive molecules, engineered, or loaded with molecules of interest, generating vesicles with unique properties. Our technology enables the precise identification of the phytocomplex or natural molecule of interest, the selection of the plant and tissue richest in that compound, the isolation of plant cells, their expansion in culture, and the production of nanovesicles enriched with those bioactive molecules. The nanovesicles produced, containing bioactive molecules such as polyphenols, carotenoids, and glucosinolates, offer high-value applications in nanomedicine, cosmetics, and nutraceuticals. Thanks to their natural origin and sustainability, our vesicles are increasingly welcomed by society, minimizing ethical concerns and the risk of adverse effects. Our technology provides a cutting-edge and advantageous solution for the production of nanovesicles with targeted properties, ideal for nutraceutical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications.
Italy