Oral insulin research receives cash injection
Researchers investigating the development of an oral form of insulin are to benefit from a
Researchers investigating the development of an oral form of insulin are to benefit from a £63,000 grant from the Cunningham Trust.
Scientists at the Robert Gordon University (RGU) in Aberdeen will be able to carry out pioneering research offering some hope to diabetes patients who dread insulin injections.
The RGU research on this area was presented at last year's British Pharmaceutical Conference in Manchester and showed that insulin can be protected in a chemical coating (known as a novel polymer) synthesised in the laboratory.
The development is a key step in ensuring it is not broken down by enzymes and rendered useless before entering the blood stream.
Though taking insulin in an oral form is, in theory, more desirable than injecting it, there are a number of hurdles researchers need to overcome before oral insulin becomes feasible as an alternative to injections.
Dr Woei Ping Cheng, one of the two researchers at RGU's School of Pharmacy, said: "One of the key obstacles is that if insulin is swallowed without any kind of protection from enzymes in the gut, it will be broken down before the insulin has a chance to circulate in the blood and have the desired effect on blood glucose levels.
"A patent has been filed for the work completed so far. The new Cunningham Trust grant will allow us to carry out further testing of this polymer to determine its suitability as an insulin delivery system."
Researcher Dr Rachel Knott, an expert in cell biology, said: "We will try to demonstrate
how these insulin delivery systems work in an isolated cell system and whether they will be able to enhance the body's uptake when taken orally. However, the goal of achieving an oral form of insulin is still some years away. Nonetheless, our research is taking us a significant step forward towards this important goal and offering hope to people who are living with diabetes."