Mānuka honey is more than a sweetener.

New Zealand Mānuka honey contains a remarkably complex mixture of naturally occurring compounds.

Our research asks a different question:

What higher-value technologies can New Zealand create from this extraordinary natural resource?

Quantum Technologies Limited has developed MEL-RJPI™, a Mānuka honey-derived royal jelly protein isolate.

Rather than treating honey only as a finished food, our work investigates how carefully processed bee-derived components can become ingredients for new skincare, wellbeing and biotechnology applications.

DISCOVER OUR SCIENCE

Mānuka honey as a complex biological material
Mānuka honey contains sugars, methylglyoxal, phenolic compounds, minerals, proteins and other naturally occurring constituents. It is more than just a sweetener: a chemically complex biological starting material. When I researched Manuka honey back in 2010 at a government research institute in New Zealand, I explored how Manuka honey was an exceptional biomaterial containing many different compounds that worked together through synergy. The role of each component shows you all the puzzle pieces but seeing how they work together is how a picture emerges through interactions.

My research is based on quantum biology. I research how things work together on an atomic scale using modelling approaches. The role light plays (biophoton communications). The way proteins, minerals, phenolics and small molecules work together to transform the product from a commodity (honey in a pot) into a dynamic energy system that has the potential to do wonderful things for people.

Royal jelly proteins
Major Royal Jelly Protein family are a group of proteins that occur in Manuka honey. The worker bee puts these proteins into the Manuka honey during the process of converting the nectar into honey. These are naturally occurring bee proteins associated with royal jelly and bee biology. My research as a protein biochemist focused on modifications of these proteins with MGO that naturally occur in the Manuka honey. The product that I produce is a protein-rich fraction derived from Mānuka honey. 

MEL-RJPI™ as a characterised ingredient platform
You can say MEL-RJPI™ is a proprietary Mānuka honey-derived royal jelly protein isolate or protein-enriched ingredient developed by Quantum Technologies Limited.

Protein modification chemistry
the royal jelly proteins can undergo naturally occurring chemical modifications involving amino-acid side chains such as lysine and arginine, and my research has focused on investigating how Mānuka-associated chemistry may modify bee-derived proteins. 

MGO chemistry
MGO known as methylglyoxal is a reactive carbonyl compound strongly associated with Mānuka honey and that it can interact with amino groups in proteins.

The modified proteins have a potentially different properties than the proteins purified from the queen cells in the honey comb. The small amount of protein in honey and the expensive nature of Manuka honey made everyone think that this was a difficult raw material feed stream to use for producing a protein ingredient. 

The carbonyl chemistry adds additional complexity. The modified proteins generates a large diversity of modifications. The MGO modified proteins have been associated with diabetes and stimulation of inflammation through certain modifications. The complex natural system is unable to be replicated synthetically. This diverse complexity produces the opportunity to generate a natural product that is different from other synthetic supplements in the market. The Hive is intelligent and this intelligence in imprinted on the products unique features.

Phenolic chemistry and redox biology
Mānuka honey contains phenolic compounds and phenolics can participate in oxidation-reduction chemistry.  The natural system balances carbonyl chemistry and superoxide generation with redox and antioxidant properties of the phenolics. 

These reactions that occur in Manuka honey are investigated using analysis methods that explore

• electron transfer processes
• redox behaviour
• light-sensitive chemistry
• interactions between proteins, phenolics and metal ions
• oxidative signalling at a research level

Light interaction and photochemistry
Biological molecules absorb and respond to light at specific wavelengths.  My research examines optical and photochemical behaviour of bee-derived materials.

The role of light interacting with atoms is the realm of quantum biology. The systems are dynamic and new discoveries are being made that makes you question our current solid matter biochemistry foundations.  The role hydrogen is playing in biological molecules has been overlooked due to its complex dynamic nature. 

Analysis is performed using a variety of methods that include

• spectroscopy
• fluorescence
• absorption
• photon interaction
• light-induced chemical changes

We are investigating 

• surface charge
• amino-acid accessibility
• folding
• aggregation
• protein–small molecule interactions

Characterisation methods include

• UV-visible spectroscopy
• fluorescence analysis
• microscopy
• particle analysis
• protein quantification
• electrophoretic methods
• chromatographic methods
• mass-based analytical techniques
• pH and stability testing
• formulation compatibility testing
• microbial analysis and yeast and moulds

From molecule to formulation
Quantum Technologies Ltd doesn't just do formulation and white label bee protein ingredient isolation. We also investigate how a characterised bee-derived ingredient behaves when incorporated into consumer formulations and market evaluation and consumer testing. We investigate

• stability
• dispersion
• compatibility
• storage
• packaging
• reproducibility
• product-specific formulation development

before we are confident in the commercial scale production handover to a CMO.

Research into skin and wellbeing applications

We investigate how Mānuka-derived protein systems interact with biological and chemical environments relevant to skincare, personal care and general wellbeing.

Established science
Published knowledge about Mānuka honey, MGO, royal jelly proteins, amino-acid chemistry and redox biology.

Our analytical findings
Internal characterisation and laboratory observations and customer feedback.

Research hypotheses
Mechanisms currently being investigated. Advanced quantum biological models.

Commercial products
Formulations designed for their stated cosmetic or general-wellbeing use.