Mechanics of small intestine motility for oral macromolecular delivery: modelling segmentation versus peristalsis.

ABSTRACT: Intestinal motility, including peristalsis and segmentation, drives complex fluid movements critical for the oral delivery of biologics and other macromolecules. Despite advances, oral delivery remains commercially limited by low bioavailability, often attributed to poor epithelial permeability. However, variability in motility patterns may also play a critical role, influencing intraluminal distribution and thus absorption, yet this aspect remains underexplored. Here, we combine computational fluid dynamics and machine learning to evaluate how motility type, intensity, pocket size, contractility, and fluid composition affect the delivery of a model macromolecule (insulin) and a permeation enhancer (sodium caprate, C10). We find that segmentation, especially at light intensity, consistentl

SUBMITTER: Naranjani B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12777773 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature