Ghazwani Mohammed, Hani Umme, Kyada Ashishkumar, Ballal Suhas, Issa Bahjat Saeed, Abosaoda Munthar Kadhim, Singh Abhayveer, Sabarivani A, Ray Subhashree
Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Marwadi University Research Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Marwadi University, Rajkot, Gujarat, India.
Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2025 Apr 25;13:1566743. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2025.1566743. eCollection 2025.
Diabetes is a growing global health issue, with millions of people affected by the condition. While insulin therapy is vital for managing both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, traditional methods such as subcutaneous injections have notable drawbacks, including pain, discomfort, and difficulty in maintaining stable blood sugar levels. To improve insulin delivery, research is increasingly focused on the use of natural polymers-substances derived from plants, animals, and microorganisms. These polymers, including materials like alginate, chitosan, and hyaluronic acid, have promising properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and the ability to provide controlled, sustained insulin release. By encapsulating insulin in polymers, it is protected from degradation and released in a manner that more closely mirrors the body's natural insulin production. Furthermore, the development of non-invasive delivery methods, such as oral and transdermal systems, is gaining momentum, offering the potential for more patient-friendly treatment options. This review discusses the role of natural polymers in insulin delivery, examining their mechanisms, types, and current research efforts. It also addresses the challenges that remain in advancing these technologies into practical clinical use, aiming to provide more efficient, comfortable, and effective solutions for diabetes management.
糖尿病是一个日益严重的全球健康问题，数以百万计的人受其影响。虽然胰岛素疗法对于治疗1型和2型糖尿病至关重要，但传统方法如皮下注射有显著缺点，包括疼痛、不适以及难以维持稳定的血糖水平。为了改善胰岛素递送，研究越来越多地集中于使用天然聚合物——源自植物、动物和微生物的物质。这些聚合物，包括藻酸盐、壳聚糖和透明质酸等材料，具有生物相容性、生物可降解性以及能够提供可控、持续胰岛素释放等有前景的特性。通过将胰岛素包裹在聚合物中，它可免受降解，并以更接近人体天然胰岛素产生的方式释放。此外，非侵入性递送方法的开发，如口服和透皮系统，正在兴起，为更方便患者的治疗选择提供了潜力。本综述讨论了天然聚合物在胰岛素递送中的作用，研究了它们的机制、类型和当前的研究工作。它还探讨了将这些技术推进到实际临床应用中仍然存在的挑战，旨在为糖尿病管理提供更高效、舒适和有效的解决方案。
