Is there a future in glucose-sensitive, responsive insulin delivery systems?

Abstract

Considerable amount of work has been directed towards the development of optimal glucose-responsive devices for insulin release. Hydrogel-based devices offer a wide range of parameters that can be tuned to obtain easy control of the insulin release properties. Taking advantage of their unique swelling and release properties, we may be able to achieve the desirable steady state and dynamic nature of insulin release. We review previous attempts at developing glucose oxidase-based insulin delivery systems, and we conclude that there are significant problems that must be solved for an adequate development of a device for treatment of diabetics.