Smart-gel based synthetic artificial pancreas

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25560220
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Biomedical engineering/Biomaterial science and engineering
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
• Principal Investigator: MATSUMOTO Akira 東京医科歯科大学, 生体材料工学研究所, 准教授 (70436541)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: ゲル / ボロン酸 / 糖尿病 / グルコース / インスリン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aims to develop a functionalized gel based synthetic insulin delivery system to treat diabetes. A prototype device was fabricated by covalently attaching the gel to the inner wall of a 4 Fr silicon catheter bearing number-controlled macroscopic pores so that the gel interfaces interstitial fluid with controlled surface area upon implantation. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test demonstrates that subcutaneously implanted device (both in wild type and streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic model mice) could effectively inhibit acute hyperglycemia, while also confirming at least 3-day-long safety (to prevent hypoglycemia) during the implantation. This synthetic gel based device may offer a remarkably simple, “electronics-free” and thus significantly low-cost alternative to the ongoing efforts of artificial pancreas.

Free Research Field

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