On September 10, 2026, researchers from Tel Aviv University and the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology announced the development of an innovative technology that enables therapeutic antibodies to enter cells and reach previously inaccessible disease-related proteins.
The new method temporarily “masks” antibodies using a synthetic molecule known as SL4. This allows the antibodies to be encapsulated inside lipid nanoparticles and transported across the cellular membrane. Once inside the cell, the antibodies are released and regain their original structure and biological activity.
In a laboratory model of Parkinson’s disease, the treatment significantly reduced pathological aggregates of alpha-synuclein, a protein closely associated with the development and progression of the condition.
The technology was also tested in models of cancer-related signaling pathways and acute inflammatory lung injury, demonstrating its potential application in oncology, inflammatory diseases and other complex medical conditions.
According to the researchers, approximately 80% of proteins involved in human diseases are located inside cells and are therefore difficult for conventional antibody therapies to reach. The new delivery platform could help overcome this major limitation.
The research remains at the preclinical stage and will require further studies and clinical trials before it can be used to treat patients. Nevertheless, it represents an important step toward a new generation of targeted biological therapies.
Source: Tel Aviv University