Intestinal patch allows oral insulin dosage

Researchers have developed an intestinal patch device containing insulin that can be swallowed in a capsule

The intestinal patch developed by researchers at University of California Santa Barbara has demonstrated efficacy of blood glucose management in diabetic rats.

Diabetes is caused by a deficiency in the ability to make insulin, a hormone that regulates glucose levels. Diabetic patients have insulin therapy in order to regulate the level of sugar in their bloodstreams.

Insulin is not currently taken in oral form as digestive enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract break down the protein so that it is no longer active.

Samir Mitragotri and Amrita Banerjee from the University of California Santa Barbara developed patches made of mucoadhesive polymers loaded with insulin and an intestinal permeation enhancer, then placed the patch devices in enteric-coated capsules.

Once in the intestine, the patch-containing pills dissolve and release the patches so that they can attach to the intestinal wall for site-specific delivery of the insulin.

Mitragotri said: “We’ve created a technology with several innovative features.

“Our mucoadhesive devices fit inside of a small capsule and then deliver the drug in the intestine in a very effective manner. There are many possible benefits and advantages of an oral delivery for insulin.”

To assess the efficacy of the patches diabetic rats were fasted overnight and orally fed the capsules.

Blood glucose levels were thereafter determined at different time points for up to eight hours using a commercial blood glucose meter to calculate the percent drop in glucose levels.

The patches showed that 100% of the insulin and permeation enhancer content was released within five hours of study.

Banerjee said: “The outcome of our studies suggest that this unique drug delivery approach could be used to deliver insulin orally in a continuous, time-dependent manner.”