Hansson, P. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2026

Roles of Interstitial Albumin in the Subcutaneous Delivery of Therapeutic Peptides

Subcutaneous administration of biotherapeutics is increasingly favoured for better safety profile, improved stability, and patient compliance compared with intravenous administration. Despite these advantages, the roles of extracellular matrix (ECM) components and interstitial proteins, particularly albumin, in the mechanisms governing therapeutic pharmacokinetics and bioavailability remain poorly understood. We present a versatile and customizable hydrogel platform resembling native ECM in composition, charge density, and microstructure, enabling systematic investigation of transport mechanisms in the subcutaneous space. Using this platform, we studied peptides with different net charges and albumin affinities. Based on results from confocal microscopy combined with measurements of diffusivities by means of FRAP, we propose a role for albumin beyond that of transport vehicle for drugs. We show that reversible peptide-albumin binding can both increase bioavailability by removing peptides bound to the ECM biopolymers and modulate peptide diffusivity and distribution, as albumin was found to have an affinity for matrix glycosaminoglycans. For cationic peptides, albumin had a major influence on diffusivity and distribution in the matrix, with more pronounced effects over time in vitro. These findings, complemented by exploratory in vivo observations in a limited cohort, highlight realistic ECM structure and albumin inclusion as key considerations for predictive in vitro subcutaneous models.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2025

Identifying gaps between scientific and local knowledge in climate change adaptation for northern European agriculture

Climate change impacts agriculture in complex and regionally specific ways. In temperate regions such as southern Sweden, it presents both opportunities, such as longer growing seasons, and challenges, including increased drought and heat stress. This study examined how Swedish agriculture is adapting to climate change, using the extreme 2018 drought and heatwave as a critical case to explore both immediate responses and longer-term preparedness in crop production systems. We compared scientific and local knowledge through a systematic scoping review of peer-reviewed literature from northern Europe, a workshop with project scientists, and a participatory workshop with farmers. The study aimed to identify gaps between scientific and local understandings of climate change adaptation, particularly in how extreme events influence decision-making and preparedness. Using a transdisciplinary, problem-feeding approach, we compared how farmers and scientists conceptualise crisis response and long-term adaptation, employing influence diagrams to visualise their understandings. Our review found that much scientific work focuses on short-term coping strategies, such as feed substitution or altered irrigation, while longer-term adaptation remains underexplored. In contrast, farmers emphasized context specific actions grounded in their farm operations, highlighting socio-economic and administrative constraints, whereas scientists tended to propose generalisable technology-oriented strategies. These differences underscore the importance of integrating both experiential and scientific knowledge to co-develop more effective adaptation responses. The study lays the foundation for a targeted, large-scale survey to explore farmer motivations, perceptions of risk and opportunity, and adaptive capacities across diverse contexts. Our findings highlight the need to move beyond reactive measures and investigate anticipatory strategies that foster and enable adaptive capacity. Here we demonstrate that supporting long-term adaptation in agriculture will require inclusive, evidence-based approaches that incorporate perspectives from farmers, advisors, scientists, and public authorities alike.

scientific communication and education↗