Insulin Delivery Using Dynamic Covalent Boronic Acid/Ester-Controlled Release

The number of people affected by diabetes mellitus increases globally year on year. Elevated blood glucose levels may result from a lack of insulin to manage these levels and can, over a prolonged period, lead to serious repercussions. Diabetes mellitus patients must monitor and control their blood-glucose levels with invasive testing and often alongside administration of intravenous doses of insulin, which can often lead to suboptimal compliance. To mitigate these issues, closed-loop insulin delivery systems are deemed to be among superior options for rapid relief from the demanding and troublesome necessity of self-directed care. The reversible dynamic covalent chemistry of boronic acid derivatives and their competitive affinity to 1,2- and 1,3-diols (such as those present in saccharides) allows for the design and preparation of responsive self-regulated insulin delivery materials which respond to elevated and changing glucose levels. A range of meritorious and noteworthy contributions in the domain of boron-mediated insulin delivery materials is surveyed, and providing a multidisciplinary context in the realisation of the ambitious goal of ultimately addressing the desire to furnish glucose-responsive insulin delivery materials through innovative synthesis and rigorous testing is targetted.

Automated summary

The global number of diabetes patients is increasing, requiring monitoring and insulin injections to control blood sugar levels. Closed-loop insulin delivery systems are a superior option. Boronic acid derivatives can be used to design responsive self-regulated insulin delivery materials that can respond to elevated and changing blood sugar levels.