Smart Particle Insulin Release System Detects Blood Sugar Spikes

A smart particle insulin release system detects spikes in glucose or blood sugar levels and releases insulin to counteract them.

Designed to mimic functions of the pancreas, which produces the blood-sugar regulating hormone insulin, the smart particle system stabilized blood sugar levels in animal models with suppressed pancreatic functions for up to six hours. It is an inhalable system.

The study was conducted in the laboratory of Ananth V. Annapragada, Ph.D., an associate professor at the University of Texas (UT) School of Health Information Sciences (Houston, TX, USA) The smart particle system consists of a blood sugar-sensing protein named concanavalin A (Con A) and bundles of tiny fat bubbles, called liposomes, which are loaded with insulin. "Con A binds insulin-containing liposomes that are coated with sugars, to each other, to form the inhaled particles,” Prof. Annapragada said. "When blood sugar becomes present, the Con A releases the particles to bind independently to the sugars. The released particles then release their insulin.”

"No one had ever shown that an inhalable smart release system was viable,” said Prof. Annapragada, who describes the study as a "proof of concept” initiative. He said additional work--including the discovery of less inflammatory blood sugar-sensing proteins or small molecules--will be required before its efficacy for patients can be tested in clinical trials.

The study was reported in the September 2007 issue of the International Journal of Nanomedicine.


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