JNCASR scientists develop pancreas-mimicking system for responsive insulin delivery in diabetes treatment

High blood glucose levels, indicating a need for insulin, prompts the release of insulin from a gel. This system is similar to having a tiny, self-regulating device that gives us just the right amount of medicine when we need it.

Scientists at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre For Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) have developed a new silk-based hydrogel system that mimics the pancreas, offering a potential breakthrough in insulin delivery for diabetes treatment.

The innovative approach is expected to provide a more efficient and responsive method for insulin release, addressing the challenges faced by individuals with both Type 1 and advanced stage Type 2 diabetes.

Prof. T. Govindaraju and his team from the Bio-organic Chemistry Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit at JNCASR, said that they were motivated by the success of a previously developed passive insulin release system. In that study, insulin was encapsulated in the silk protein fibroin and injected under the skin, resulting in the slow diffusion of insulin over a period of five days. Building on these findings, Prof. Govindaraju’s team modified the silk protein to create a super smart system that releases insulin in response to glucose levels in the blood.

“The goal was to create a system that mimics the function of the pancreas, an organ responsible for insulin production and release in the body, providing a continuous and controlled supply of insulin in response to elevated glucose levels in the body, to manage diabetes,” said Prof. Govindaraju.

In this study, the researchers added special elements to the system that is responsive to abnormally high glucose levels in the body and trigger the release of insulin, when needed. On injecting the silk formulation, it forms a gel underneath the skin, acting as a small storage area for insulin.

Insulin — a hormone playing an important role in controlling blood sugar — is then released in a controlled manner from this storage area, helping maintain the right levels of blood sugar in patients with diabetes.

High blood glucose levels, indicating a need for insulin, prompts the release of insulin from the gel. This system is similar to having a tiny, self-regulating device that gives us just the right amount of medicine when we need it.