Update on Novel Insulin Technologies

The focus here is on the delivery of insulin by formulations that provide an alternative to subcutaneous injection and that rely mainly on gelatinous carrier materials. This will progress to the ideal of delivering an automated closed loop system, first putting this into context with biological and electronic means, but then discussing the evolution of new insulins. The presentation will then explore the use of gel technologies, with an accept on their compatibility with insulin, protection characteristics and their ability to provide a predictable basal dose. At this point we divert to look at gel structure and metrics, the kind of molecular linkages that can be used to form gels and the several gels designs that are already possible for potential delivery orally, by other mucous surfaces and by devices. The next step is to consider the requirements for design of a gel that could provide on demand boost doses and examine the molecular mechanisms that have been used to date. The talk will finish with an explanation of our own work that involves delivery of insulin to diabetic pigs, using a refillable peritoneal device that holds a glucose-sensitive gateway gel governing output from an insulin reservoir.