Technology for drug products addressing medical needs
Advancing Drug Delivery with Silicon Nanoparticles
Nacamed AS is an innovative pharmaceutical company focused on developing new drugs to address unmet medical needs. At the core of our technology lies a proprietary process for producing commercial-scale, tailor-made porous silicon-based nanoparticles designed for drug delivery and other medical applications.
Over the past two decades, numerous scientific studies have highlighted the potential of silicon nanoparticles in medicine. However, the transition from research to commercial pharmaceutical products has been hindered by the lack of scalable production methods. Nacamed addresses this gap by combining state-of-the-art research with our unique, precision-engineered nanoparticle synthesis process, enabling the development of clinically viable nanomedicine solutions.
Our technology
Silicon particles
Potential medical applications of silicon nanoparticles described in the prior art include silica-based particles (SiO2) and particles based on non-oxidized silicon (Si).
The Nacamed nanoparticles are stable clusters of tiny silicon (Si) prepared by a proprietary production process by a chemical vapor decomposition (CVD) process from silane gas (SiH4).
The process has the following characteristics:
Scalable (currently a semi-commercial process)
Flexible (tailor made nanoparticles ( from few nanometers to several micrometer size)
Porous particles
Simple process
No need for extreme chemicals like HF
Medical use of Nacamed particles
Based on the high flexibility in production, the Nacamed particles have a wide range of therapeutic applications including enteral and parenteral drug delivery including hydrogen gas delivery and various in vitro and in vivo diagnostic applications.
New drugs in delelopment
Drug delivery
The porous silicon nanoparticles are useful for delivery of several types of drug substances including low molecular weight compounds and larger drug substances like biological compounds (protein-based drug substances).
The particle surface can be coated with various coating materials to modify drug release and biological properties.
The current focus is development of oral formulations of drug substances with very low aqueous solubility and thereby no or low oral bioavailability. These drug substances are in the scientific community classified as “Biopharmaceutics Classification System type 2 (BCS type 2)”. For BSC type 2 substances the challenge that limits oral use is the aqueous solubility.
Very many drug substances on the marked and in development are classified as BSC type 2 drug substances.
Silicon Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery
Nacamed's technology is built upon a unique process for synthesizing tailor-made porous silicon nanoparticles. Our bottom-up chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method ensures scalable and precise production of particles. These nanoparticles offer key advantages:
Controlled Drug Release – Tailored particle properties optimize the release profile of active substances.
Enhanced Bioavailability – Particularly beneficial for drugs with poor solubility.
Safe and Biocompatible – No extreme chemicals required, making the process both efficient and environmentally friendly.
New drugs in explorative phase
Immunology
The understanding of Immune related diseases has during the last two decades resulted in several new approved drug products with disease-modifying effects on many common diseases.
An area of specific interest for Nacamed is the immunomodulating drugs. Preliminary data show that silicon nanoparticles might have a potential within immunological related diseases and immunological effects od drugs.
Dual delivery
An exploratory research project in Nacamed is based on dual delivery of both hydrogen gas and classical drug substances from the same nanoparticles. Further studies related to possible synergistic effects are in progress.
General information about Nacameds research and development activity and policy
Nacamed has own laboratories with relevant laboratory equipment including several HPLC systems. The Company also have extensive collaborations with both academic institutions and pharmaceutical companies in Norway and abroad.
Nacamed has an active IP strategy and has filed several patent applications. Some of these patent families have been published.
Nacamed has also an active publication strategy. One of Nacameds key employees (Hennie Marie Johnsen) performed her dissertation for Ph.D in 2025 in collaboration with Institute of Pharmacy, University of Oslo. Several of Nacameds publications are available in this site and in the open scientific publication databases.
Nacamed is excited to explore new commercial and academic collaborations; principally within in vitro and in vivo studies in established models around potential new drug substances and super generic drug formulations
Delivery of poorly soluble drugs
Poor solubility is considered one of the major challenges in drug development. 40% of drugs on the market and 90% of drugs under development have insufficient water solubility1. This can lead to poor oral bioavailability, high dosing, high cost, gastrointestinal side effects, drug interactions and potential environmental problems.
The Nacamed particles can capture and stabilize a crystal form of these drugs with faster dissolution upon oral delivery, that will improve the uptake of the drug. This will result in improved dose responses, reduced side effects and lowered costs.
Production of H2 in the body from silicium nanoparticles
Hydrogen gas has shown to have several therapeutic effects in many different disease states. As an antioxidant hydrogen can reduce the amount of oxidative stress in addition to possessing several other homeostasis-promoting mechanisms. Hydrogen therapy has shown positive indications in clinical trials in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases, central nervous system disorders, infections and many more. The available hydrogen administration methods are limited due to the poor water solubility and the explosive hazard when mixed with oxygen. Administration of an oral formulation containing the Nacamed particles offers a feasible way to safely and efficiently deliver large doses of hydrogen for disease treatment.
TECHNOLOGY BENEFITS
The Nacamed’s drug delivery technology has multiple competitive advantages over other alternative delivery technologies
SAFETY
Nacamed´s nanoparticle is a natural, endogenous component of the body
Fully biocompatible and non-toxic in living tissue
Nacamed´s nanoparticle has a simple metabolism – in vivo it generates hydrogen in a safe way
Nacamed´s nanoparticle has been recognized by matitilsynet….. Jo and Marie input as a GRAS material (Generally Regarded As Safe)/ look at Japan
VERSATILITY
Suitable for small molecules, biomolecules
Suitable for highly water soluble and poorly water soluble compounds
Administration in various dosage forms: microparticles, tablets and depot injections ?
CONTROLLED RELEASE
Nacamed´s nanoparticle is fully biodegradable by dissolution in body fluids
Drug release strictly controlled by silica surface erosion
Nacamed´s nanoparticle dissolution can be adjusted from min to hours and days??? Jo to verify
Initial burst well controlled
Science: Production of hygrogen in vivo
Porous nano silicium and the function of hydrogen in vivo- Checking out the science and landscape
Research summary:
Medical use of hydrogen gas (H2) has been given increasing attention over the past 15 years with numerous clinical trials for a variety of indications. The biological activity of H2 includes antioxidant properties and thereby the ability to neutralize damaging reactive oxygen species (ROS). Administration of hydrogen as a medical gas is limited by the poor water solubility and by the flammability of H2 in air. Therefore, nanocarriers have been investigated for safer and more efficient administration of hydrogen. Silicon particles are suggested for oral administration with the ability to undergo a redox reaction with water to produce H2 in vivo.
Research article by Hennie Marie Johnsen, PhD student and project technician, Nacamed.
Our partners and colloborators
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
