Nanotechnology Breakthrough: Needle-Free Oral Insulin for Diabetes Patients

A team of researchers from the University of Sydney and Sydney Local Health District has developed a groundbreaking needle-free oral insulin using nanotechnology. This innovation has the potential to benefit approximately 75 million diabetes patients worldwide who currently rely on daily insulin injections to manage their condition.

Why this matters: This breakthrough has the potential to significantly reduce the economic and health burden associated with diabetes management, improving the quality of life for millions of people worldwide. Moreover, it could pave the way for further innovations in the field of diabetes treatment, leading to better health outcomes and increased life expectancy for patients.

The novel oral insulin utilizes a nano-scale material that is 1/10,000th the width of a human hair, acting as a "nano carrier" to transport insulin molecules in the body to the targeted areas. This material is designed to be resistant to stomach acid and releases the insulin only when there is a high concentration of blood sugar, ensuring it does not release in low blood sugar environments.

The research team, led by Dr. Nicholas Hunt from the University of Sydney's School of Medical Sciences, has successfully tested the nano insulin in mice, rats, and baboon animal models. The results have shown that the technology can effectively control blood glucose levels without causing hypoglycaemia or weight gain, and with no observed toxicity. "A huge challenge that was facing oral insulin development is the low percentage of insulin that reaches the blood stream when given orally or with injections of insulin," explained Dr. Hunt. "To address this, we developed a nano carrier that drastically increases the absorbance of our nano insulin in the gut when tested in human intestinal tissue."

Developing a safe and effective oral insulin has been a long-standing challenge since the discovery of insulin over a century ago. The researchers believe that their oral insulin technology has the potential to significantly reduce the economic, health, and wellbeing burden associated with diabetes management for patients worldwide.

Human trials for this innovative oral insulin are expected to commence in 2025, spearheaded by the spin-out company Endo Axiom Pty Ltd, founded by Professor Victoria Cogger, Professor David Le Couteur AO, and Dr. Nicholas Hunt. "It's wonderful to see our work published, supported by Endo Axiom and reaching clinical trials – to be able to lead a change in the way we treat a disease that impacts so many people," expressed Professor Cogger, director of The ANZAC Research Institute.

The research team is hopeful that theiroral insulin technologywill not only reduce the multi-faceted burden of diabetes but also improve the quality of life for all individuals living with the condition. This nanotechnology-based breakthrough marks a significant step forward in the field of diabetes management, offering a needle-free alternative that could revolutionize the way insulin is administered to patients worldwide.

Key Takeaways

• Researchers develop needle-free oral insulin using nanotechnology.
• 75 million diabetes patients worldwide could benefit from this innovation.
• Nano carrier material transports insulin to targeted areas, resistant to stomach acid.
• Successful tests in mice, rats, and baboon models show effective blood glucose control.
• Human trials expected to commence in 2025, led by spin-out company Endo Axiom.