1 research outputs found
Light Control of Insulin Release and Blood Glucose Using an Injectable Photoactivated Depot
In this work we demonstrate
that blood glucose can be controlled
remotely through light stimulated release of insulin from an injected
cutaneous depot. Human insulin was tethered to an insoluble but injectable
polymer via a linker, which was based on the light cleavable di-methoxy
nitrophenyl ethyl (DMNPE) group. This material was injected
into the skin of streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats. We observed
insulin being released into the bloodstream after a 2 min trans-cutaneous
irradiation of this site by a compact LED light source. Control animals
treated with the same material, but in which light was blocked from
the site, showed no release of insulin into the bloodstream. We also
demonstrate that additional pulses of light from the light source
result in additional pulses of insulin being absorbed into circulation.
A significant reduction in blood glucose was then observed. Together,
these results demonstrate the feasibility of using light to allow
for the continuously variable control of insulin release. This in
turn has the potential to allow for the tight control of blood glucose
without the invasiveness of insulin pumps and cannulas