ARTICLE | Translation in Brief
A charged system for insulin delivery
A new strategy for smart insulin relies on electrostatic charge
August 2, 2019 1:41 AM UTC
A charge-based glucose-binding switch is the latest technology aimed at enabling automatic insulin control. With proof-of-concept experiments in mice and minipigs, the system could rival preclinical technologies picked up by Eli Lilly, Merck and Novo Nordisk.
To relieve diabetes patients of the burden of frequent insulin injections and constant glucose monitoring, drug developers have sought "smart" technologies that mimic the function of the pancreas by releasing insulin in response to high blood sugar levels. While closed-loop pump devices that monitor and dispense insulin are in the lead, researchers are also developing pharmacological approaches to conditional insulin release...