Diabetes Treatment May Deliver Insulin Through a Skin Cream
a day ago
- #medical-research
- #diabetes
- #insulin-delivery
- Breakthrough in insulin delivery could eliminate the need for invasive needles for diabetes patients.
- Scientists demonstrated a topical insulin treatment using mice, minipigs, and lab-grown human skin samples.
- Insulin molecules are large and hydrophilic, making skin penetration difficult.
- A polymer called OP interacts with skin's pH gradient to deliver insulin transdermally.
- OP-I conjugate effectively delivered insulin in human skin models and diabetic mice, normalizing glucose levels within an hour.
- Diabetic minipigs showed similar results, with glucose levels stabilizing for 12 hours.
- OP-I accumulates in glucose-regulating tissues, activating insulin receptors and enhancing glucose uptake.
- The treatment showed no signs of inflammation, suggesting minimal side effects.
- The OP conjugation system may also work with other biomacromolecules like peptides and proteins.
- Research published in Nature indicates potential for broad therapeutic applications.