An innovative polymer offers the possibility of delivering insulin without injections, providing a less evasive and potentially more convenient option for patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Transdermal insulin delivery could improve treatment adherence, reduce injection-related pain, and decrease related skin complications.

This approach would allow for increased drug concentration and minimized first-pass metabolism.

Challenges in Skin Penetration

Traditionally, insulin and other large biomolecules have faced significant barriers to absorption through the skin, being limited to spaces such as hair follicles and sweat glands.

Typically administered via intradermal injection, insulin is painful to apply and can induce needle phobia and cause skin complications.

The polymer Poly[2-(N-oxide-N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (OP) demonstrates exceptional skin permeability, allowing for the effective diffusion of insulin into the bloodstream. Its structure allows for a change in charge state during passage through the skin layers, promoting this absorption.

Study Results

Researchers have demonstrated the rapid diffusion of OP and its conjugate with insulin in animal models, showing significantly superior absorption compared to traditional methods. The findings point to effective normalization of blood glucose levels in type 1 diabetes models.

The results indicate that OP-I not only mimics the effect of native insulin but also exhibits an extended half-life, suggesting a promising new approach for non-invasive insulin delivery.

Estimated Treatment Cost

The estimated cost of treatment with insulin injections may vary depending on the type of insulin and the regimen.

But in general, it ranges from approximately $50 to $111 per year for human insulin and can reach about $72 to $111 annually for insulin analogs, including supplies such as syringes or reusable pens. In contrast,Although a specific exact cost for the new transdermal polymer treatment is not available, it is mentioned that oral or transdermal administration with polymers is usually relatively inexpensive for the healthcare system, as it does not require supplies associated with injections, which could imply a reduction in indirect treatment costs. Therefore, treatment with the new polymer for non-invasive insulin administration has the potential to be more economical or cost-competitive compared to traditional injections, especially considering the reduction in disposable materials and complications associated with injections. However, the exact costs depend on the commercialization and large-scale production of this new technology, for which specific data is not yet available.

Costs of traditional insulin treatment:

Potential cost of transdermal polymer treatment:

Towards a needle-free future

The development of this polymer opens the door to the possibility of more user-friendly treatments for diabetic patients, eliminating the need for daily injections and improving their quality of life.

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