Nanotech could make taking insulin safer and easier
Too good to be true?
In a not-too-distant future, managing diabetes could be as simple as eating some sugar-free chocolate.
While it might seem too good to be true, new research by Australian scientists has found a way to deliver oral insulin effectively using nanotechnology.
Rewriting history
Historically, oral forms of insulin have been ineffective – mostly due to these treatments being destroyed by acid in the stomach or being poorly absorbed by the gut.
The research has discovered a way to sidestep these problems, thanks to advances in nanotechnology. The insulin is encapsulated inside nano-sized carriers known as quantum dots, around 1/10,000th the width of human hair, or a millionth the
size of a finger.
The nano-carriers protect the insulin from being degraded as it moves through the stomach, and they are more easily absorbed by the small intestine.
The point at which the insulin is released is influenced by the body’s blood sugar levels and the presence of enzymes – small proteins that break down sugars in the blood. Put simply: the insulin is encapsulated inside a coating, and that coating is broken down by enzymes released when there is a high concentration of sugars in the blood.
When blood sugar is high, there is a rapid release of insulin. When it is low, insulin is not released.
This method of insulin delivery reduces the risk of a low blood sugar event, as the insulin is released in a more controlled way.
What’s next?
Following the pre-clinical studies, the next step towards bringing this technology to patients is to ensure its efficacy and safety through human trials. This will help scientists understand any potential side effects and address how the nano-carriers can best be produced and distributed at scale.
Human trials are expected to start in 2025.
This new method for delivering insulin orally could provide several other benefits for people living with diabetes who are insulin-dependent and inject rather than use an insulin pump. This method also allows insulin to be stored at room temperature, rather than having to be refrigerated, as the nano-carrier preserves the protein structure of the insulin and protects it from the environment.
If successful, this technology has the potential to simplify diabetes management for millions of people, particularly benefiting those who face barriers to traditional insulin therapy.
Dr Nicholas Hunt is a senior lecturer in the School of Medical Science at the University of Sydney and leader at the Biogerontology laboratory at the ANZAC Research Institute.
Dr Hunt is co-founder and CEO of Endo Axiom, which will be taking these therapeutics to clinical trials.
Dr Hunt’s research has been supported by the Australian Diabetes Society, the University of Sydney, the Sydney Medical School Foundation, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), Therapeutic Innovation Australia and the Caenorhabditis Genetics Centre.
