Professor Webber, a biomedical engineer at the University of Notre Dame, USA, designs medicines to mimic natural molecules in the body. Prof Webber and his team developed a ‘smart insulin’ comprising an injectable glucose-responsive reservoir.  

Designing insulin nanocomplexes

Professor Webber’s team has developed a smart insulin delivery system that uses tiny particles called nanocomplexes, which contain insulin. These nanocomplexes can be injected under the skin to create a reservoir of insulin. If glucose levels in the blood rise, insulin is automatically released from the stored particles into the bloodstream. 

This allows blood glucose levels to be managed in realtime, as less insulin is released when blood sugar levels are low. The team has shown that in pigs with type 1 diabetes, a single injection of the insulin nanocomplexes is enough to keep glucose levels stable for a whole week. 

What will Prof Webber do in this project?

In this project, Prof Webber and his team will continue to develop this smart insulin delivery system and test the function in pigs exposed to relevant real-life scenarios. They will explore more reliable ways to manufacture the insulin-containing nanocomplexes to allow them to be stored at room temperature.  

By collaborating with a non-profit company dedicated to developing of new treatments and cures, the team will also attempt to reduce the amount of the smart insulin needed in one daily injection to achieve the same blood glucose management. They will consider risk of hypos in response to exercise, eating vs not eating, and illness by testing it in pigs with diabetes. 

The research will help the team find out how quickly different doses of the new smart insulin bring down blood glucose levels at different times during the day, including at mealtimes, during exercise and when not eating.  

How will this research help people with type 1 diabetes?

This research project will bring smart insulins a step closer to clinical trials in people with type 1 diabetes. The smart insulin nanocomplex Prof Webber’s team is developing could one day help people with type 1 manage their blood glucose levels with fewer injections and a reduced risk of hypos. This would help people with type 1 to think less about their diabetes and more about living life to the full.  

Prof Matthew Webber said:

“Our work will develop and test new insulin formulations that offer simplified dosing schedules and which adjust their potency according to real-time blood glucose levels. Such technology will allow for a more autonomous therapeutic approach to treat type 1 diabetes, affording accurate blood glucose control while minimising side-effects.”