An Indian Researcher, Chandra Sharma of Sri Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology has developed a capsule form of insulin and if he is successful, diabetics would soon be able to take a pill of insulin filled nano particles which could relieve them from painful jabs. At present, around 40% of an estimateded 135 million people in the world inflicted with diabetes are dependant on the insulin using painful injections to control blood sugar.
The pill developed by Dr.Sharma has found a way to package the insulin nano particles which is both protected from stomach and is able to get through the intestinal wall and from there into the liver and blood stream. They are water attracting on the inside and water repellant on the outside. They break down on entering the blood stream and releases the insulin.
Experiments with rats and pigs have so far been successful. The findings have been presented at a Biomaterials Conference held in the University of New Southwales in Sydney.