Coating technology could hold key to oral insulin

A significant step toward the development of oral insulin has been taken by researchers from the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen.

The research, presented at the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) in Manchester, shows that insulin can be protected in a chemical coating, which is a key step to ensuring it is not broken down and rendered useless before entering the blood stream.

Supported by the Cunningham Trust, the research has now shown that insulin can be protected by a novel polymer coating synthesised in the laboratory that encapsulates the insulin and protects it from enzyme breakdown.

"Being able to take insulin orally would have a significant impact on the lives of many patients - not just eliminating the need for injections, but also offering a much more convenient form of treatment," said Dr Colin Thompson, Research Fellow, working under the supervision of Dr Woei Ping Cheng, at the university's School of Pharmacy.

Though taking insulin in a capsule is, in theory, more desirable than injecting it, there are a number of hurdles researchers need to overcome to claim that oral insulin is feasible as an alternative. "Further testing of this complex is needed to determine its suitability as an insulin delivery system - a goal that is some years away," Dr Thompson added.