Duke University Research Leads to Long-term Type 2 Insulin Injection
A new biopolmer injection could replace daily or weekly insulin shots with a bi-weekly or monthly injection. The new development was created by researchers at Duke University in North Carolina and published as a paper in Nature.
The injection method could improve the lives of millions of diabetics who struggle with dosages and variances in their diets and insulin intake.
Insulin demands in the body are always changing, making dosing difficult.
Newer drugs use glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP1) receptor angonists. These use a signaling molecule (GLP1) to trigger insulin release in the pancreas. Unfortunately, GLP1 has a short life in the body, so direct injections only provide fleeting help. Several experiments to fuse GLP1 with different compounds in order to extend its usefulness in the body have created drugs capable of regulating insulin for up to a week.
Now, Duke researchers think they can extend that to two weeks or even a month. By using biopolymer (bio-plastic) that encases the GLP1 and releases it based on body heat reactions. The biopolymer forms a gel that slowly releases the GLP1 into the blood stream at a steady rate over time. Without the usual "peaks and troughs" of GLP1 injections in other forms.
In some cases, the biopolymer-encased GLP1 could last three times as long as in other common methods. The Duke University teams is continuing with animal studies and working towards human trials. They also plan to expand the biopolymer's use into other drugs, such as pain medications.
Source: MedicalNewsToday.com
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