The traditional subcutaneous administration of insulin for diabetic patients could soon be replaced by an oral treatment which releases the necessary dose of insulin, without overdosing, while avoiding destruction by stomach acids.
- Insulin is placed between nanomaterials resistant to stomach acid but sensitive to sugar.
- These nanomaterials manage to release the sufficient quantity of insulin that the body needs and avoid possible overdoses.
A next revolution for patients with diabetes? Since January 11, 1922, the date of the first insulin injection in humans, this technique of subcutaneous administration has been used by diabetic patients to maintain their blood sugar levels at normal values. For several years, researchers have been trying to find an alternative to this restrictive method of daily injections. Scientists at the University of New York in Abu Dhabi seem to have found an effective pill that manages to avoid the destruction by stomach acids, a long time blocking point in the design of an oral treatment. They presented their results on April 6 in the scientific journal Chemical Science.
Avoid processing delays
The primary goal of the researchers is to provide a less off-putting way for patients to treat their diabetes. A study published in November 2017 in the journal Diabetic Medicine estimated that almost a third of patients (30%) delay insulin treatment because of concerns about self-injection. “Our technology has the potential to enable the oral delivery of insulin in a safer, more efficient and more patient-friendly manner, easing the treatment burden that is limited to intravenous or subcutaneous administration.”, rejoices Ali Trabolsi, lead author of the study.
Nanomaterials, the miracle solution
The difficulty in designing an insulin pill is to ensure that it is protected so that it can be administered where it is needed. Other oral treatment projects have been developed in recent years, but none have succeeded in being fully effective. “Despite clinical trials of several oral insulin formulations, sufficient commercial development has not yet been achieved.”, confirms Ali Trabolsi.
The researchers achieved this by placing the insulin between nanomaterials resistant to stomach acid but sensitive to sugar. “Our work overcomes oral insulin delivery barriers using insulin-loaded nCOF nanoparticles, which confer insulin protection in the stomach, as well as glucose-responsive release.precise Farah Benyettou, researcher at Trabolsi Research Group from New York University in Abu Dhabi and author of the study.. This technology responds quickly to a rise in blood sugar, but would stop quickly to avoid an overdose of insulin, and ultimately will significantly improve the well-being of diabetic patients worldwide..”
The pill soon to be tested on humans
These nanomaterials appear all the more effective as they are capable of containing and conditioning up to 65% of their own weight in insulin. These nanomaterials manage to release the sufficient quantity of insulin that the body needs and avoid possible overdoses.
This pill, currently only tested on rats, should confirm its effectiveness in humans. The researchers have already announced that they are working to refine the chemistry of their system by exploring and testing different types of nanoparticles.
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