Painless skin electroporation as a novel way for insulin delivery

Tak Wah Wong, Tai Yu Chen, Chien Chun Huang, Jui Chen Tsai, Sek Wen Hui

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Rigorous research efforts have been undertaken worldwide to develop a needle-free insulin delivery for many decades with limited success. This translational study aims to deliver insulin through skin with painless electroporation. Methods: A recently designed microelectrode array was used to deliver insulin in mice with diabetes under electroporation conditions that are painless and harmless on human skin. Results: Under such condition, a therapeutic amount of insulin was delivered successfully through mouse skin. Electroporation alone increased insulin transport around 100-fold compared with passive diffusion. Increased skin temperature to 40°C for 20 min augmented insulin transport to 237-fold more than the control value. Repeated electroporation showed no harm on human skin. Conclusion: The results indicate the potential of painless delivery of insulin through human skin in future clinical practice.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)929-935
Number of pages7
JournalDiabetes Technology and Therapeutics
Volume13
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011 Sept 1

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Endocrinology
  • Medical Laboratory Technology

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