Researchers at UCLA have developed a nanoparticle that may help prevent and reverse peanut allergies, according to Dr. André Nel, professor of medicine and director of research at the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA. Nel leads the team behind this technology, which was recently highlighted in a Scientific American cover story focusing on advances in peanut allergy therapies.
The nanoparticles are engineered to target specific liver cells, where they can retrain the immune system to accept peanut proteins rather than react against them. Experiments with mice showed that these nanoparticles not only reduced severe allergic reactions but also prevented allergies from forming.
Peanut allergies affect about 1 in 50 children in the United States and have become more common in recent years. Severe cases can result in anaphylactic shock, a reaction that may block airways or cause cardiac arrest.
Since publishing their findings in 2023—a study that has been widely referenced and spurred the creation of a startup—Nel’s group has begun testing the nanoparticle approach for other conditions, including egg allergies and diabetes.
“We can also achieve success in preventing type 1 diabetes in an animal model,” said Nel. “We’ve also seen that it’s possible to treat a mixed food allergy in the mouse model, where we combined peanut allergen with an egg protein.”
This research addresses growing concerns over food allergies as one of the fastest-rising health issues among children nationwide.
