Contact:
sales@biotechnologyforums.com to feature here

Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Nano-particles Provide Long-lasting Blood Glucose Control
#1
Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which the body is not able to properly process sugar. This normally results from insufficient insulin, a hormone that helps tell cells to take in sugar from the blood stream. It is important for patients with diabetes mellitus to maintain appropriate blood sugar levels in order to minimize the risks associated with long term high blood sugar, including peripheral neuropathy, kidney problems, and heart disorders. There are two major forms of diabetes mellitus. In Type I diabetes mellitus, the patient’s immune system attacks pancreatic cells responsible for producing insulin. In Type II diabetes mellitus, the patient is either unable to produce an adequate amount of insulin, or his or her cells become insulin resistant and do not respond efficiently to the hormone.

Type I diabetes mellitus requires regular insulin injections to make up for the lost hormone producing cells. Type II diabetes mellitus can sometime be treated with exercise and diet, but can often require insulin and other medications. Insulin injections are required at least daily, as insulin is a protein and is broken down by the body. In addition, as blood sugar levels change in response to meals, different doses of insulin may be required. There are no current long term treatments available for diabetes mellitus- daily lifestyle adjustments are required to maintain proper blood sugar levels. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition, with no cures available to stop the disease. Options that could provide control of blood sugar levels for days or even longer are needed to help improve patient compliance and prevent complications from diabetes mellitus.

Recent animal tests performed by teams of researchers from a group of institutions from North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Children’s Hospital Boston, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have shown that a new strategy could help provide insulin to the body’s cells for several days, after only one injection. The study involved the use of nano-particles that are injected into the bloodstream. The nano-particles were able to sense blood glucose levels, and release appropriate amounts of insulin in response to changing sugar concentrations. The nano-particles are composed of insulin that has been coated in glucose oxidase enzymes and modified dextran. When blood glucose levels begin to increase, the glucose oxidase enzymes will convert the glucose into gluconic acid, which breaks down the dextran and releases the insulin. This system was able to successfully control blood glucose levels in mice for up to ten days. The nano-particles are coated in biologic materials with either a positive or negative charge. When these are injected under the skin, they form a network, which holds the nano-particles together and prevents them from circulating throughout the body. This network functions in a manner similar to the pancreas, releasing insulin as blood glucose levels increase.

All of the materials used to build the nano-network are biologically compatible. This means they will be processed by the body and removed by the excretory system, without interacting with other systems. This is important, and means that the nano-particle insulin system may quickly be moved into human clinical trials without requiring major modifications. Safety is always a major concern when new therapeutic strategies are introduced to human studies. By using these biologically compatible molecules, the possibility of negative reactions is significantly minimized, and the therapy itself will be more beneficial.

A major benefit of the nano-particle insulin distribution system has to do with its ability to sense and respond to changing blood glucose levels. Many patients with diabetes mellitus require insulin injections to help control blood sugar levels. However, the amount of insulin injected must be determined by the patient in response to recent food consumption and glucose readings, and this is a very imprecise science. While most patients quickly develop a method for determining how much insulin to take, they are still relying on human calculations, which can be faulty. Administering too much insulin can cause dangerously low blood sugar levels. Too little insulin can result in blood glucose levels remaining too high. Both of these conditions are of serious concern. The nano-particle insulin delivery system takes the guess work out of insulin administration. This could greatly improve blood sugar management in diabetic patients, and improve quality of life.


References:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/201...114716.htm
Like Post Reply
  

Possibly Related Threads…
Thread
Author
  /  
Last Post



Users browsing this thread:
2 Guest(s)

Nano-particles Provide Long-lasting Blood Glucose Control00