Medics have found a new way to deliver insulin without a needle
Diabetes is the most common non-communicable disease in the world. According to 2018 estimates, the number of people suffering from the disease will rise from 451 million to 693 million by the 2030s. Patients need insulin to maintain normal blood glucose levels. The traditional way of administering it has been invasive, that is, subcutaneous injections. But this method has a number of complications: fear of needles, pain, possible complications in the form of hypoglycemia, etc. The first alternative to subcutaneous insulin was inhaler insulin - but it was taken off the market for lung safety reasons. The most convenient method of maintaining stable sugar levels is the insulin pump.
A new method of delivery - "smart" insulin - was found by Australian doctors. They have invented a capsule filled with nanocarriers with built-in insulin. Once in the stomach, the nanoparticles are not dissolved by digestive enzymes because they are protected by a coating of silver sulfide quantum dots (Ag2S). The insulin nanoparticles then reach the liver, from where they act to release when the body needs them.
"This means that when blood sugar levels are high, there is a rapid release of insulin, and more importantly, when sugar levels are low, no insulin is released," explained study author and University of Sydney researcher Nicholas J. Hunt.
In other words, capsule insulin is embedded in the patient's liver and acts similarly to how it does in healthy people. With this support for stable blood sugar levels, there is no risk of overdose or insulin accumulation in muscle and fatty tissues. As medics note, with capsules, taking this hormone will be more convenient and inconspicuous, and it can be stored at home in the refrigerator.
However, the new method has not yet been tested on humans - clinical trials are planned to begin in 2025 under the leadership of the Australian company Endo Axiom Pty Ltd, where Nicholas J. Hunt co-founder and CEO. The drug has now been tested on mice, rats and baboons. To get the animals to accept the capsule, it was added to sugar-free chocolate. As a result, the rodents with diabetes did not experience hypoglycemia and weight gain, while 20 healthy baboons had lower blood sugar levels. The researchers hope to have the drug on the market in two to three years.