Unlocking milk's formula could lead to the development of new formulas for premature babies, weight loss drinks and potentially new drug delivery systems, according to a recent study.

Researchers from Monash university discovered milk has a highly geometrically ordered structure when being digested.

Whilst milk's nutritional values are well known, little research has been conducted into the detailed structure of milk and how its fats interact with the digestive system until now.

Stefan Salentinig, one of the lead authors of the study, said the research provides a blueprint for the development of new milk products. It could also lead to a new system for drug delivery.

"By unlocking the detailed structure of milk we have the potential to create milk loaded with fat soluble vitamins and brain building molecules for premature babies, or a drink that slows digestion so people feel fuller for longer. We could even harness milk's ability as a 'carrier' to develop new forms of drug delivery," Salentinig said in a statement.

By chemically recreating the digestive system in a glass beaker and adding cows' milk, the research team found that milk has a unique structure -- an emulsion of fats, nutrients and water forms a structure which enhances digestion.

Salentinig said the structure is similar to a sponge, potentially enhancing the absorption of milk's healthy fats.

"We knew about the building blocks of milk and that milk fat has significant influence on the flavor, texture and nutritional value of all dairy food. But what we didn't know was the structural arrangement of this fat during digestion," he said.

Researchers found that when the body starts the digestion process, an enzyme called lipase breaks down the fat molecules to form a highly geometrically ordered structure.

"These small and highly organized components enable fats, vitamins and lipid-soluble drugs to cross cell membranes and get into the circulatory system," Salentinig said.

Researchers hope to utilize these findings to design and test improved medicines.

The findings were recently published in the journal ACS Nano.