End of Painful Injections: Smart Patch Automatically Delivers Insulin
A smart patch that adheres to the skin, monitors blood glucose levels, and automatically delivers insulin using hundreds of micro-needles as needed by the body.
The end of injections and pain? (Photo: shutterstock)Has the end come for the painful injections that diabetics must administer to themselves daily? Scientists have invented a smart patch that adheres to the skin, monitors blood glucose levels, and automatically delivers insulin using hundreds of micro-needles as needed by the body.
The research was published in the journal Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences. The study's lead author, Professor Zhen Gu from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of North Carolina, explained that they managed to develop a patch that works quickly, is easy to use, and is made from non-toxic materials suitable for the body. According to him, the patch can be adapted to different weights and insulin sensitivities.
The end of injections and pain? (Photo: shutterstock)The smart patch - about the size of a postage stamp - is covered with more than a hundred tiny needles that contain microscopic storage units for insulin and glucose-sensing enzymes, which are released when blood sugar levels become too high. The patch has been found effective in mice, and the next step is a clinical trial in humans.
Patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes must keep their blood sugar levels under control. Their management of blood sugar levels includes regular finger pricks to measure glucose and insulin injections - a process that can sometimes be painful, inaccurate, and can even lead to significant medical complications like blindness.
The new patch consists of smart particles made of tiny bubbles, containing a small amount of insulin and enzymes designed to replenish glucose levels. When the sensors detect a sharp rise in blood sugar levels, the bubbles release specific amounts of insulin according to the glucose levels. The insulin penetrates the skin and enters the bloodstream.
About a year ago, an insulin inhaler was approved by the FDA and is expected to be used in the country by the end of the year. Despite the innovative development of the inhaler, it is not suitable for all diabetics and has various limitations, such as smokers who cannot use it.
