Young researcher spotlights: Philip Heine, building molecular tools to track nutrievs 

Meet the minds shaping NutriEV’s future 

As part of our NutriEV Young Researchers series, we spotlight early-career scientists who are driving innovation across Europe within the NutriEV project funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme.  

These young researchers bring fresh ideas, creativity, and passion to the study of nutrient-enriched extracellular vesicles (nutriEVs), tiny but powerful carriers that could revolutionise nutrition, diagnostics, and health. 

 In this feature, we meet Philip Alexander Heine from Technische Universität Braunschweig, whose pioneering work in antibody engineering is helping the NutriEV team “see” what was once invisible. 

Building molecular tools to track nutritional vesicles 

In the world of scientific discovery, some breakthroughs begin with something as small as a molecule. For Philip Alexander Heine, a young researcher at Technische Universität Braunschweig (TU Braunschweig) in Germany, those molecules take the form of antibodies, specialised proteins capable of recognising and binding to specific targets in the body.  

His work may sound microscopic, but its implications are vast: helping us understand how nutrients travel through our bodies and how food-derived particles could one day be used to combat metabolic diseases such as obesity. 

Philip is part of the NutriEV project, which brings together scientists from across Europe to investigate nutrient-enriched extracellular vesicles (nutriEVs), tiny, membrane-bound particles released by plants, fermented foods, and even our own gut cells.  

These vesicles act as molecular messengers, carrying nutrients, lipids, proteins, and glycans that influence how cells communicate and how our metabolism functions. In short, they could be the key to unlocking a new generation of superfoods and non-invasive diagnostic tools for metabolic health. 

From curiosity to cutting-edge research 

Philip’s academic journey led him to TU Braunschweig, one of Germany’s oldest and most prestigious universities of technology, where he works in the Department of Biotechnology under the guidance of Professor Michael Hust, a leading expert in antibody engineering. When Hust invited him to join the NutriEV project, Philip saw an opportunity to apply his expertise in a completely new field. 

“NutriEV is my first project working on extracellular vesicles,” he explains. “Their complex role in metabolism and cell–cell signalling fascinates me because of the number of influencing factors that can play important roles.” 

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are incredibly diverse, varying in size, composition, and biological function. Their ability to cross biological barriers and communicate with distant cells makes them both challenging and exciting to study. For Philip, understanding and tracking these vesicles requires creating precise molecular tools, and that’s where antibodies come in. 

Building the tools to see the invisible 

Within NutriEV, Philip contributes to the research area “Biochemical Tools to Target nutriEV Functions”, coordinated by Professor Michael Hust at TU Braunschweig. His role is both highly technical and essential: he designs and generates recombinant antibodies capable of recognising unique features on the surface of these vesicles. 

Using a method known as phage display technology, Philip can produce monoclonal antibodies that specifically target the molecules, or biomarkers, found on nutriEVs. These antibodies will make it possible to detect vesicles in biological samples, follow their journey through the body, and identify which cells they interact with along the way. 

“We’re developing recombinant antibodies that can help us track nutriEVs and understand their interactions in different tissues,” Philip says. “This will allow us to visualise how they move through the body and where they might exert beneficial effects.” 

Creating these antibodies begins with producing recombinant EV surface proteins, the potential “antigen” targets. For this, Philip uses a Baculovirus-free High5 insect cell production system, an advanced platform that enables high-yield, high-quality protein production. Once these proteins are ready, they serve as templates to develop antibodies that bind precisely and exclusively to nutriEVs. 

This work may sound highly specialised, but it’s a critical step in building the experimental foundation for the entire NutriEV project. Without reliable detection tools, scientists cannot fully map how food-derived vesicles behave inside the body—a key question that could reshape how we think about nutrition. 

Collaboration across Europe 

Science rarely happens in isolation, and for Philip, one of the most rewarding aspects of NutriEV is its collaborative spirit. The project unites research teams from across Europe, each contributing a unique piece of the puzzle. Philip’s antibodies, for example, depend on the nutriEV samples produced and purified by the team at the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) in Naples, Italy, led by Professor Gabriella Pocsfalvi. 

“The achievements of the CNR team are essential for the rest of the consortium,” Philip notes. “Their success in isolating and characterising nutriEVs provides the foundation for our antibody development.” 

These collaborative efforts are strengthened by in-person meetings, where ideas flow freely and new strategies emerge. Philip highlights that while digital tools make coordination possible, direct communication remains the most productive way to advance scientific projects. 

Facing challenges and looking ahead 

Every research journey has its challenges, and Philip’s is no exception. One of the biggest hurdles has been identifying suitable EV biomarkers, the molecular “fingerprints” that distinguish nutriEVs from other vesicles. These targets are crucial for developing antibodies that are both specific and reliable. 

“The biggest challenge so far is finding rewarding EV biomarkers as antibody targets,” he admits. “We are now producing these proteins and starting the antibody development process.” 

Despite these challenges, Philip remains optimistic. The next phase of his work will focus on finalising the production of these recombinant surface proteins and using them to generate highly specific antibodies. Once developed, these molecular tools will not only help the NutriEV team trace the pathways of vesicles in cells and tissues but may also pave the way for new diagnostic applications, such as detecting nutriEVs in blood or sweat. 

A vision for the future of nutrition 

Philip’s enthusiasm for NutriEV goes beyond his own research. He envisions a future where understanding extracellular vesicles could transform both nutrition and public health. 

“My hope is that we identify the role of vesicles in nutrition, their influence on our body, our microbiome, and ultimately our health,” he says. “This knowledge could help us improve food quality and contribute to better public health.” 

For a young researcher like Philip, NutriEV represents more than a scientific project; it’s an opportunity to be part of a paradigm shift. By combining biotechnology, nutrition, and molecular biology, the project aims to redefine how we think about food, not just as sustenance, but as a biological communication system that connects what we eat with how our bodies function. 

And thanks to researchers like Philip Heine, the invisible world of extracellular vesicles is becoming just a little clearer.