Bioinspired Heterogeneous Spheres with Tunable Helical Structure for Accurate and Efficient Control of Sugar Blood...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Oral antidiabetic drugs are standard for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but compromised bioavailability can cause dangerous hypoglycemia.
• Existing microstirring oral pills face challenges with release control and biocompatibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate novel millimeter-sized helical spheres (HSs) inspired by Phacus helicoides for improved oral drug delivery in T2DM.
• To assess the efficacy of HSs in controlling blood glucose levels and reducing hypoglycemia incidence.

Main Methods:

• Millimeter-sized spheres with an inner helical structure were designed, mimicking Phacus helicoides morphology and motion.
• The helical spheres (HSs) were externally manipulated using a magnetic field for controllable mixing and drug release.
• The HSs' ability to adsorb, catalyze, and release substances was utilized to mimic metabolic processes.

Main Results:

• Helical spheres demonstrated controllable self-rotation and circular motion, enabling efficient mixing.
• HSs effectively reduced postprandial blood glucose levels in rats with T2DM within 2 hours.
• The incidence of drug-induced hypoglycemia was significantly reduced from 14.2-18.6% with glibenclamide to 3.8% using HSs.

Conclusions:

• Helical spheres represent a promising approach for oral drug delivery, enhancing bioavailability and mitigating hypoglycemia risk in T2DM.
• The biomimetic design of HSs offers a controllable and potentially more biocompatible alternative to existing oral antidiabetic therapies.