Double Whammy on Diabetes

Pills have been created that treat and even prevent type 1 diabetes

Georgy Golovanov, Hi-tech+

Scientists from Yale University have developed a new drug for type one diabetes. In tests on mice, the revolutionary drug, which is taken orally, not only quickly put insulin levels in order, but also restored metabolic functions and reversed inflammation of the pancreas. Experiments on pigs have also confirmed its effectiveness. Thus, the medicine can not only treat, but also prevent diabetes. At the same time, it acts 7 times faster than insulin injections.

Type 1 diabetes begins with the fact that the human immune system attacks and destroys the beta cells of the pancreas, which are responsible for the production of insulin. The main action of insulin is the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism, in particular, glucose utilization, so diabetics need to inject insulin several times a day.

Taking insulin in tablets would be much easier and more comfortable, but unfortunately, insulin is destroyed in the stomach before it reaches the circulatory system. Many scientists are experimenting with various delivery methods — protective shells, capsules with microneedles or nanoparticles, according to the press release of A Drug that Does Double Duty in Treating Diabetes.

Article by Lee et al. Metabolic and immunomodulatory control of type 1 diabetes via orally delivered bile-acid-polymer nanocarriers of insulin or rapamycin is published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering – VM.

Recently, specialists from Yale have designed a new vehicle made of nanoparticles, which not only safely delivers insulin to the pancreas, but also has a therapeutic effect. Their shell consists of ursodeoxycholic acid, polymerized bile. It facilitates the penetration of the drug into the pancreas and, more importantly, reduces the number of harmful immune cells.

Scientists tested nanoparticles on mice with type 1 diabetes and found that the drug increases insulin levels, while bile reduces inflammation and restores metabolic function. In addition, insulin in tablets acted about seven times faster than standard injections. Similar results were shown by experiments on pigs.

According to the researchers, the nanoparticles they created can also deliver other molecules, so this method is potentially suitable for the treatment of other autoimmune diseases, cancer, allergies and infections.

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