Exploring multi-functional biopolymer polyhydroxyalkanoates in diabetes treatment

Millions of individuals worldwide suffer from a chronic metabolic disorder, diabetes, defined as a reduction in insulin production or sensitivity, which raises blood glucose levels, weakens the immune system, and results in irregularities in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Therefore, there is still a high demand for non-invasive ways to administer insulin and other antidiabetics to treat diabetes and suitable therapeutics for wound healing. This generates a need for novel biomaterials that effectively use diabetes-associated therapy. This article emphasized that some special -features of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biocompatible, biodegradable thermoplastic polyesters used in biomedical applications, expanding the options for bioresorbable polymers having antidiabetic and antimicrobial activities. PHAs can be synthesized into scaffolds and nanomaterials that release insulin and other antidiabetic medications in a sustained and controlled way that could improve treatment results. Research analysis on the application of PHAs as scaffold materials for bioartificial pancreas development offers a biocompatible and structurally supportive environment to encapsulate pancreatic cells. Further, challenges including excessive production costs, requirement for additional clinical setting optimization, and the current status of PHAs in the market are emphasized in this review. Further research is needed to explore the therapeutic potential of PHAs exhaustively in diabetes therapeutics and management.