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Published on: July 12, 2024
Microneedle Patches Loaded with Nanovesicles for Glucose Transporter-Mediated Insulin Delivery
Qian Chen1,2,3,4, Zhisheng Xiao4, Chao Wang3,4
1Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States.
Abstract:
Glucose-responsive insulin delivery systems that mimic insulin secretion activity in the pancreas show great potential to improve clinical therapeutic outcomes for people with type 1 and advanced type 2 diabetes. Here, we report a glucose-responsive insulin delivery microneedle (MN) array patch that is loaded with red blood cell (RBC) vesicles or liposome nanoparticles containing glucose transporters (GLUTs) bound with glucosamine-modified insulin (Glu-Insulin). In hyperglycemic conditions, high concentrations of glucose in interstitial fluid can replace Glu-Insulin via a competitive interaction with GLUT, leading to a quick release of Glu-Insulin and subsequent regulation of blood glucose (BG) levels in vivo. To prolong the effective glucose-responsive insulin release from MNs, additional free Glu-Insulin, which serves as "stored insulin", is loaded after RBC vesicles or liposome nanoparticles bound with Glu-Insulin. In the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetic mouse model, this smart GLUT-based insulin patch can effectively control BG levels without causing hypoglycemia.
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