Feb 4 2009
Yissum Ltd., the Technology Transfer Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, today announced that Professor Nissim Garti from the Casali Institute of Applied Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has received the 2009 American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS) Stephen S. Chang Award for his invention of novel nanoparticles of structured lipids to improve the bioavailability of various drug, food or cosmetic ingredients.
"We are extremely proud that Professor Garti's achievements are recognized by the AOCS," stated Yehuda Yarmut, EVP and acting CEO of Yissum. His research is an excellent example of the importance and potential of basic research, and we believe that it has the potential to significantly improve the delivery of drugs, cosmetics and nutraceuticals."
Prof. Garti's inventions are based on trapping the relevant water-insoluble ingredient in a tiny liquid droplet. The nano-scale droplets function as microscopic shuttles, which deliver their cargo with increased efficiency. The technology could be utilized for delivering insoluble substances, for slow and controlled release of drugs, for improved transdermal drug delivery, and also for increased absorption of various food additives, such as in energy and health drinks. This technology has led to the establishment of NutraLease, a company that harnesses nano-encapsulation technology for improve delivery of drugs and nutraceuticals, such as vitamin D and E.
The latest development in Prof. Garti's work led to designing and constructing another set of new liquid architectures derived from lyotropic liquid crystals with cubic or hexagonal symmetries. The new delivery vehicles have water channels as well as oil channels that enable incorporation of water-soluble and oil-soluble bioactives for transdermal or transmembrane delivery. These novel preparations are thermodynamically stable and have very high solubilization capacities. They are designed to recognize the human membranes and to enhance the transport of the bioactives from the digestive tract to the blood stream or across the skin into the blood stream.
The Stephen S. Chang Award is bestowed by the AOCS in recognition of a scientist or technologist who has made decisive accomplishments in basic research that have been utilized by industries for the improvement or development of products related to lipids. The award winning ceremony will be part of the AOCS's 100th annual meeting, which will take place in Orlando, Florida on May 3-6.