Pancreatic Targeting

The pancreas is a highly heterogeneous organ composed of multiple cell types with distinct physiological functions. As a result, achieving selective drug delivery to the pancreas—and particularly to insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells—remains a significant challenge. Our recent studies have demonstrated that transporter-utilizing compounds designed to target L-type Amino Acid Transporter 1 (LAT1) can accumulate efficiently in the pancreas, opening new opportunities for targeted therapeutic delivery.

Our research focuses on two main questions:

1. Targeted therapies for pancreatic diseases

Exploring whether LAT1-utilizing drugs and prodrugs can improve the treatment of pancreatic diseases, including pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis, and diabetes.

2. The brain–pancreas axis in neurodegenerative disease

Investigating the potential therapeutic benefits of simultaneously targeting the brain and pancreas using transporter-utilizing compounds. In particular, we aim to understand how the interplay between these organs may influence diabetes-associated neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Through this work, we seek to establish new strategies for pancreas-targeted drug delivery and uncover novel links between metabolic and neurological diseases.

Selected Publications

Utilization of LAT1 as a carrier to Target (Pro)drugs into the Pancreas

Tampio, J.; Králová, A.; Riihioja, S.; Pitkänen, S.; Markowicz-Piasecka, M.; Ihamäki, O.; Savolainen, K.; Torunoglu, S. T.; Jalkanen, A. J.; Lehtonen, M.; Kauppinen, A.; Rysä, J.; Huttunen, K. M. Amino acid prodrug of capsaicin improves pharmacokinetic properties in the mouse brain and pancreas. European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2025, 214: 114797. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpb.2025.114797

Tampio, J.; Montaser, A. B.; Järvinen, J.; Lehtonen, M.; Jalkanen, A. J.; Reinisalo, M.; Kokkola, T.; Terasaki, T.; Laakso, M.; Rysä, J.; Kauppinen, A.; Huttunen, K. M. The L-type amino acid transporter 1 enhances drug delivery to the mouse pancreatic beta cells (MIN6). European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2024, 203: 106937. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejps.2024.106937

Tampio, J.; Markowicz-Piasecka, M.; Montaser, A.; Rysä, J.; Kauppinen, A.; Huttunen, K. M. The L-Type Amino Acid Transporter 1 (LAT1) Utilizing Ferulic Acid Derivatives Show Increased Drug Delivery in Pancreas Along with Decreased Lipid Peroxidation and Prostaglandin Production. Molecular Pharmaceutics, 2022, 19(11), 3806-3819. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c00328

Tampio, J.; Markowicz-Piasecka, M.; Huttunen, K. M. Hemocompatible L-Type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1)-Utilizing prodrugs of perforin inhibitors can accumulate into the pancreas and alleviate inflammation-induced apoptosis. Chemico-Biological Interactions, 2021, 345: 109560. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbi.2021.109560