In recent developments, a team of researchers from the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) has discovered a revolutionary method for sustained insulin delivery in patients suffering from diabetes. JNCASR, an autonomous research institute operating under the Department of Science and Technology has developed an injectable silk fibroin-based hydrogel, termed iSFH.
Understanding Diabetes
Diabetes arises due to insufficient insulin production resulting from either the loss of pancreatic beta cells or body-wide insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone that enables glucose from food to enter cells where it can be utilised for energy. However, if insulin production is inadequate, glucose conversion into energy is impaired. This leads to sharp elevations in blood glucose levels. With more than 70 million diabetic individuals, India holds the second-largest global diabetic population, surpassed only by China.
Current Treatment Methods and Limitations
Presently, repeated subcutaneous (under the skin) insulin injections remain the most common and viable form of treatment to maintain physiological glucose balance. However, multiple issues arise from these injections including pain, local tissue necrosis (or tissue death), infections, nerve damage, and locally concentrated insulin amyloidosis which hampers the attainment of physiological glucose balance. Amyloidosis results from the buildup of abnormal protein named amyloid in organs which affects their normal functions.
Injectable Silk Fibroin Hydrogel: A Potential Solution
The introduction of controlled and sustained insulin delivery mechanisms may offer a solution to these treatment issues. Enter the newly-developed injectable Silk Fibroin Hydrogel (iSFH), a tool that has shown potential to ease insulin delivery. Successful trials with rats have demonstrated the hydrogel’s ability to steadily release insulin and restore physiological glucose balance for an extended four-day period. Furthermore, the porous nature of iSFH permits the encapsulation of recombinant insulin (analogous to human insulin) in its active form. Thus, it boasts numerous advantages such as excellent mechanical strength, biocompatibility, encapsulation, storage, and ongoing delivery of functional insulin.
The Role of Silk Fibroin
Silk fibroins are distinctive proteins found in silkworm fibers. They possess unique properties, including compatibility with living tissues, adequate oxygen permeability, and biodegradability. These fibers have been identified as promising resources for biotechnology and biomedical materials due to their ability to be absorbed by the body with minimal inflammatory reaction.
What is a Hydrogel?
A hydrogel is essentially a 3D network of hydrophilic polymers that can swell and retain a significant amount of water whilst preserving its structure. This maintenance of structure is due to the chemical or physical cross-linking of individual polymer chains.
