Artificial Beta Cells Sense Glucose Levels And Deliver Insulin
People with type 1 diabetes, and sometimes type 2, require daily insulin injections, or insulin pump infusions, to manage their blood sugar levels.
Now, researchers at the University of North Carolina and NC State have developed an artificial beta cell that could eliminate the need for daily injections.
The artificial beta cells (ABCs) function to control the body’s supply of glucose, and would be inserted under a patient’s skin every few days, or delivered via a painless, disposable skin patch. Just one injection of ABCs into mice that lacked beta cells rapidly normalized their blood sugar level, and it remained normal up to five days.
“Our plan now is to further optimize and test these synthetic cells in larger animals, develop a skin patch delivery system for them, and ultimately test them in people with diabetes,” said lead investigator Zhen Gu, PhD, a professor in the Joint UNC/NC State Department of Biomedical Engineering.
The ABCs that Gu and colleagues created have a two-layer lipid membrane that surrounds vesicles (sacs) full of insulin. As glucose levels elevate the vesicle coating changes chemically, causing them to fuse with the ABC’s outer membrane. As vesicles meld with the outer membrane, they unload their insulin.
The research team is planning more pre-clinical tests, and expects to develop a skin patch for pain-free delivery of ABCs. In a separate project, they are also working on a cell-free “smart insulin patch” that will detect glucose levels and release insulin into the bloodstream.
“There is still much work needed to optimize the artificial-cell approach before human studies are attempted, but these results so far are a remarkable, creative first step to a new way to solve the diabetes problem using chemical engineering as opposed to mechanical pumps or living transplants,” said investigator John Buse, MD, PhD, professor at UNC, and director of the UNC Diabetes Care Center.
Source: newswise/UNC School of Medicine
Photo: UNC and NC State
More Articles
With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.
Farro...
Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....
With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...
If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...
In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.
When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...
More Articles
If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....
For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.
A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...
According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...
Eleven Clinical Studies
After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...
Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...
Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...
Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...
Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...
Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....
When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...
Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.
The...
Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...
Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...
Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...
One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...