Lactoferrin (Lf) is a safe and biocompatible protein, widely used as a functional component in the medical, food, and cosmetic industries. Its antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anticancer properties have been intensively studied and many promising results have been obtained.
Our studies were inspired by Prof. Magdalena Strus (Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University), with whom as part of cooperation we focused on the development of a methodology for obtaining the apo- (metal free) and holo-lactoferrin (saturated with iron or manganese).
- G. Majka, K. Śpiewak, K. Kurpiewska, P. Heczko, G. Stochel, M. Strus, M. Brindell “A high-throughput method for the quantification of iron saturation in lactoferrin preparations.” Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 2013, 405, 5191-5200.
- K. J. Śpiewak, G. Majka, M. Pilarczyk-Żurek, P. M. Nowak, M. Woźniakiewicz, P. Pietrzyk, T. Korzeniak, A. Stochel-Gaudyn, K. Fyderek, M. Strus, M. Brindell “Mn3+-saturated bovine lactoferrin as a new complex with potential prebiotic activities for dysbiosis treatment and prevention – On the synthesis, chemical characterization and origin of biological activity.” J. Funct. Food 2017, 38, 264-272.
- Patent: EP3344653A1 A complex of lactoferrin with manganese ions, a method of manufacturing use and a pharmaceutical composition comprising complex of lactoferrin with manganese ions” Inventors: Magdalena Strus, Grazyna Stochel, Malgorzata Brindell, Magdalena Pilarczyk-Zurek, Klaudyna Śpiewak, Grzegorz Majka.
The obtained lactoferrins were further tested for their biological activity by the group of Prof. M. Strus and the group of Prof. Tanya Monaghan (School of Medicine, University of Nottingham).
- G. Majka, G. Więcek, M. Śrottek, K. Śpiewak, M. Brindell, J. Kozieł, J. Marcinkiewicz, M. Strus “The impact of lactoferrin with different levels of metal saturation on the intestinal epithelial barrier function and mucosal inflammation.” Biometals 2016, 29, 1019-1033.
- C.H. Chilton, G.S. Crowther, K. Śpiewak, M. Brindell, G. Singh, M.H. Wilcox, T.M. Monaghan “Potential of lactoferrin to prevent antibiotic-induced Clostridium difficile infection.” J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 2016, 71, 975-985.
- Sh. Braim, K. Śpiewak, M. Brindell, D. Heeg, C. Alexander, T. Monaghan “Lactoferrin-loaded Alginate Microparticles to Target Clostridioides difficile infection.” J. Pharmac. Sci. 2019, 108, 2438-2446.
One of the major problems is the efficient oral administration of lactoferrin due to the advanced digestion of this protein in the stomach. So, currently, we are working in cooperation with the group of Prof. Manuel Arruebo (Aragon Nanoscience Institute, University of Zaragoza, Spain) on systems for encapsulation of lactoferrin to protect protein against proteolysis and metal release in the gastric tract.
- P. Gajda-Morszewski, K. Śpiewak-Wojtyła, M. Oszajca, M. Brindell “Strategies for oral delivery of metal-saturated lactoferrin” Curr. Protein Pept. Sci. 2019, 20, 1046-1051.