Smart insulin patch could ‘revolutionize’ care for diabetes patients

Researchers have developed a smart patch for insulin delivery, publishing their findings in Nature Biomedical Engineering.

The patch, which is roughly the size of a quarter, was designed to work for 24 hours before it needs to be replaced. It monitors glucose and can instantly deliver insulin when needed using tiny microneedles.  

“Our main goal is to enhance health and improve the quality of life for people who have diabetes,” corresponding author Zhen Gu, a professor of bioengineering at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, said in a prepared statement. “This smart patch takes away the need to constantly check one’s blood sugar and then inject insulin if and when it’s needed. It’s mimicking the regulatory function of the pancreas, but in a way that’s easy to use.”

The team’s study involved mice and pigs and “may aid the development of other translational stimuli-responsive microneedle patches for drug delivery.” Human clinical trials may begin “within a few years,” but FDA approval will be required before they can occur.

“It has always been a dream to achieve insulin-delivery in a smart and convenient manner,” co-author John Buse, MD, PhD, director of the Diabetes Center and the Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, said in the same statement. “This smart insulin patch, if proven safe and effective in human trials, would revolutionize the patient experience of diabetes-care.”

Michael Walter
Michael Walter, Managing Editor

Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.

Around the web

Compensation for heart specialists continues to climb. What does this say about cardiology as a whole? Could private equity's rising influence bring about change? We spoke to MedAxiom CEO Jerry Blackwell, MD, MBA, a veteran cardiologist himself, to learn more.

The American College of Cardiology has shared its perspective on new CMS payment policies, highlighting revenue concerns while providing key details for cardiologists and other cardiology professionals. 

As debate simmers over how best to regulate AI, experts continue to offer guidance on where to start, how to proceed and what to emphasize. A new resource models its recommendations on what its authors call the “SETO Loop.”