Nanomedicine for treatment of inflammation in pregnancy
Safe medication for mother and child
Special care must be taken with illnesses during pregnancy, as not all drugs are compatible for mother and child. This is why an international research team involving Empa is now developing nanomedicines that will enable safe and effective treatment of inflammatory processes during pregnancy. Pregnancy complications are often caused or accompanied by inflammation, but the treatment options are often not sufficiently effective or are suspected of interfering with the development of the foetus.

When complications occur in the course of a pregnancy, it is not only the mother's life that is at risk, but also that of the unborn child. But what can be done when medication against widespread infections and other pregnancy complications such as pregnancy poisoning, diabetes or the threat of premature birth is either ineffective or too risky?
Medical research has a possible answer: nanozymes. The tiny synthetic particles could help treat inflammatory processes in the placenta without harming mother or child. A team of researchers from Empa, ETH Zurich, the Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen and the Chinese Zhejiang University is now developing novel nanozymes in a project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). The development process is accompanied by comprehensive studies on drug safety.
A modular toolkit for safe therapies

Nanozymes are tiny synthetic compounds in the nanometer range with enzyme-like properties that are already being investigated in other medical fields, such as cancer therapy. They are made up of a nanostructured core (e.g. metal atoms or metal oxides), which determines the particle's enzymatic activity, and surface modifications that increase the stability of the nanozymes and improve their specificity. “In this way, we want to enable customized use for different areas of application,” explains Empa researcher Tagaras.
The activity of the nanozymes changes depending on the prevailing disease processes in the area of application: From a stealth mode, a kind of inactive state, they can become active in order to capture reactive oxygen species (ROS) in inflammatory processes, for example, or to destroy bacteria in the event of an infection.
The development of the nanozymes is accompanied by laboratory experiments on the safety of the new drugs. Here, the researchers in the Empa laboratories use established models that faithfully reproduce what happens in the placenta and in the organism of both mother and child. “The structure, metabolism and interaction of maternal and fetal tissue are unique in humans,” says team leader Tina Bürki from Empa's Nanomaterials in Health laboratory in St. Gallen. It is therefore necessary to investigate the effect of the nanozymes on laboratory models with human cells and tissues. The established placenta model is used here, for which the team uses fully functional human placentas that were made available after Caesarean sections. “Only thanks to human placental tissue can we obtain meaningful results on the transport and effect of the nanozymes,” says the Empa researcher.
A promising start
A further step towards safe nanomedicines is the so-called placenta chip, a finger-length polymer chip on which human cells grow that represent the placental barrier and the embryo in conditions that are as close to reality as possible. In addition to transport processes at the placenta, the direct and indirect effects of the nanozymes on early embryonic development can also be investigated in this way.
The initial results are promising. “The nanozymes do not impair the placental barrier and have so far shown no negative effects on the models studied,” says Empa researcher Tagaras. Next, the team will analyze the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects of the nanozymes.
Dr. Tina Bürki
Nanomaterials in Health
Phone +41 58 765 7696
Nikolaos Tagaras
Nanomaterials in Health
Phone +41 58 765 7054
N Tagaras, H Song, S Sahar, W Tong, Z Mao, and T Buerki-Thurnherr; Safety Landscape of Therapeutic Nanozymes and Future Research Directions; Advanced Science (2024); DOI: 10.1002/advs.202407816
Medical technology
Focusing on people: In the Research Focus Area Health, Empa researchers are developing pioneering solutions for the medicine of tomorrow – precisely where “conventional” materials meet living ones, i.e. cells and tissue. There are polymers that light up when there is an infection with certain germs, tiny gold particles against cancer or “nanozymes” that help mothers with complications during pregnancy without harming the foetus – and much more.
Read the latest EmpaQuarterly online or download the PDF version.
Nanomedicine for treatment of inflammation in pregnancy
Safe medication for mother and child
Special care must be taken with illnesses during pregnancy, as not all drugs are compatible for mother and child. This is why an international research team involving Empa is now developing nanomedicines that will enable safe and effective treatment of inflammatory processes during pregnancy. Pregnancy complications are often caused or accompanied by inflammation, but the treatment options are often not sufficiently effective or are suspected of interfering with the development of the foetus.

When complications occur in the course of a pregnancy, it is not only the mother's life that is at risk, but also that of the unborn child. But what can be done when medication against widespread infections and other pregnancy complications such as pregnancy poisoning, diabetes or the threat of premature birth is either ineffective or too risky?
Medical research has a possible answer: nanozymes. The tiny synthetic particles could help treat inflammatory processes in the placenta without harming mother or child. A team of researchers from Empa, ETH Zurich, the Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen and the Chinese Zhejiang University is now developing novel nanozymes in a project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). The development process is accompanied by comprehensive studies on drug safety.
A modular toolkit for safe therapies

Nanozymes are tiny synthetic compounds in the nanometer range with enzyme-like properties that are already being investigated in other medical fields, such as cancer therapy. They are made up of a nanostructured core (e.g. metal atoms or metal oxides), which determines the particle's enzymatic activity, and surface modifications that increase the stability of the nanozymes and improve their specificity. “In this way, we want to enable customized use for different areas of application,” explains Empa researcher Tagaras.
The activity of the nanozymes changes depending on the prevailing disease processes in the area of application: From a stealth mode, a kind of inactive state, they can become active in order to capture reactive oxygen species (ROS) in inflammatory processes, for example, or to destroy bacteria in the event of an infection.
The development of the nanozymes is accompanied by laboratory experiments on the safety of the new drugs. Here, the researchers in the Empa laboratories use established models that faithfully reproduce what happens in the placenta and in the organism of both mother and child. “The structure, metabolism and interaction of maternal and fetal tissue are unique in humans,” says team leader Tina Bürki from Empa's Nanomaterials in Health laboratory in St. Gallen. It is therefore necessary to investigate the effect of the nanozymes on laboratory models with human cells and tissues. The established placenta model is used here, for which the team uses fully functional human placentas that were made available after Caesarean sections. “Only thanks to human placental tissue can we obtain meaningful results on the transport and effect of the nanozymes,” says the Empa researcher.
A promising start
A further step towards safe nanomedicines is the so-called placenta chip, a finger-length polymer chip on which human cells grow that represent the placental barrier and the embryo in conditions that are as close to reality as possible. In addition to transport processes at the placenta, the direct and indirect effects of the nanozymes on early embryonic development can also be investigated in this way.
The initial results are promising. “The nanozymes do not impair the placental barrier and have so far shown no negative effects on the models studied,” says Empa researcher Tagaras. Next, the team will analyze the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects of the nanozymes.
Dr. Tina Bürki
Nanomaterials in Health
Phone +41 58 765 7696
Nikolaos Tagaras
Nanomaterials in Health
Phone +41 58 765 7054
N Tagaras, H Song, S Sahar, W Tong, Z Mao, and T Buerki-Thurnherr; Safety Landscape of Therapeutic Nanozymes and Future Research Directions; Advanced Science (2024); DOI: 10.1002/advs.202407816
Medical technology
Focusing on people: In the Research Focus Area Health, Empa researchers are developing pioneering solutions for the medicine of tomorrow – precisely where “conventional” materials meet living ones, i.e. cells and tissue. There are polymers that light up when there is an infection with certain germs, tiny gold particles against cancer or “nanozymes” that help mothers with complications during pregnancy without harming the foetus – and much more.
Read the latest EmpaQuarterly online or download the PDF version.
Nature's fiber composite
Researchers develop living material from fungi
Fungi are considered a promising source of biodegradable materials. Empa researchers have developed a new material based on a fungal mycelium and its own extracellular matrix. This gives the biomaterial particularly advantageous properties.

Sustainably produced, biodegradable materials are an important focus of modern materials science. However, when working natural materials such as cellulose, lignin or chitin, researchers face a trade-off. Although these substances are biodegradable in their pure form, they are often not ideal when it comes to performance. Chemical processing steps can be used to make them stronger, more resistant or more supple – but in doing so, their sustainability is often compromised.
Empa researchers from the Cellulose and Wood Materials laboratory have now developed a bio-based material that cleverly avoids this compromise. Not only is it completely biodegradable, it is also tear-resistant and has versatile functional properties. All this with minimal processing steps and without chemicals – you can even eat it. Its secret: It's alive.
Optimized by nature

As the basis for their novel material, the researchers used the mycelium of the split-gill mushroom, a widespread edible fungus that grows on dead wood. Mycelia are root-like filamentous fungal structures that are already being actively researched as potential sources of materials. Normally, the mycelial fibers – known as hyphae – are cleaned and, if necessary, chemically processed, which brings about the above-mentioned trade-off between performance and sustainability.
The Empa researchers chose a different approach. Instead of treating the mycelium, they use it as a whole. As it grows, the fungus not only forms hyphae, but also a so-called extracellular matrix: a network of various fiber-like macromolecules, proteins and other biological substances that the living cells secrete. “The fungus uses this extracellular matrix to give itself structure and other functional properties. Why shouldn't we do the same?” explains Empa researcher Ashutosh Sinha. “Nature has already developed an optimized system,” adds Gustav Nyström, head of the Cellulose and Wood Materials lab.
With a bit of additional optimization, the researchers gave nature a helping hand. From the enormous genetic diversity of the split-gill, they selected a strain that produces particularly high levels of two specific macromolecules: the long-chain polysaccharide schizophyllan and the soap-like protein hydrophobin. Due to their structure, hydrophobins collect at interfaces between polar and apolar liquids, for example water and oil. Schizophyllan is a nanofiber: less than a nanometer thick, but more than a thousand times as long. Together, these two biomolecules give the living mycelium material properties that make it suitable for a wide range of applications.
A living emulsifier

The researchers demonstrated the versatility of their material in the laboratory. In their study, which was published recently in the journal Advanced Materials, they showcased two possible applications for the living material: a plastic-like film and an emulsion. Emulsions are mixtures of two or more liquids that normally do not mix. All you have to do to see an example is open the fridge: Milk, salad dressing or mayonnaise are all emulsions. And various cosmetics, paints and varnishes also take the form of emulsions.
One challenge is to stabilize such mixtures so that they do not separate into the individual liquids over time. This is where the living mycelium shows its strengths: Both the schizophyllan fibers and the hydrophobins act as emulsifiers. And the fungus keeps releasing more of these molecules. “This is probably the only type of emulsion that becomes more stable over time,” says Sinha. Both the fungal filaments themselves and their extracellular molecules are completely non-toxic, biologically compatible and edible – the split-gill mushroom is routinely eaten in many parts of the world. “Its use as an emulsifier in the cosmetics and food industry is therefore particularly interesting,” says Nyström.
From compost bags to batteries

The living fungal network is also suitable for classic material applications. In a second experiment, the researchers manufactured the mycelium into thin films. The extracellular matrix with its long schizophyllan fibers gives the material very good tensile strength, which can be further enhanced by targeted alignment of the fungal and polysaccharide fibers within it.
“We combine the proven methods for processing fiber-based materials with the emerging field of living materials,” explains Nyström. Sinha adds: “Our mycelium is a living fiber composite, so to speak.” The researchers can control the fungal material's properties by changing the conditions under which the fungus grows. It would also be conceivable to use other fungal strains or species that produce other functional macromolecules.
Working with the living material also presents certain challenges. “Biodegradable materials always react to their environment,” says Nyström. “We want to find applications where this interaction is not a hindrance but maybe even an advantage.” However, its biodegradability is only part of the story for the mycelium. It is also a biodegrader: The split-gill mushrooms can actively decompose wood and other plant materials. Sinha sees another potential application here: “Instead of compostable plastic bags, it could be used to make bags that compost the organic waste themselves,” says the researcher.

There are also promising applications for the mycelium in the field of sustainable electronics. For example, the fungal material shows a reversible reaction to moisture and could be used to produce biodegradable moisture sensors. Another application that Nyström's team is currently working on combines the living material with two other research projects from the Cellulose and Wood Materials laboratory: the fungal biobattery and the paper battery. “We want to produce a compact, biodegradable battery whose electrodes consist of a living 'fungal paper',” says Sinha.
Dr. Gustav Nyström
Cellulose and Wood Materials
Phone +41 58 765 45 83
Ashutosh Sinha
Cellulose and Wood Materials
Phone +41 58 765 42 79
A Sinha, LG Greca, N Kummer, C Wobill, C Reyes, P Fischer, S Campioni, G Nyström: Living Fiber Dispersions from Mycelium as a New Sustainable Platform for Advanced Materials; Advanced Materials (2025); doi: 10.1002/adma.202418464