ECMOFOBIA, porque 14 picadelas por dia deixam qualquer um ecmofóbico...

quinta-feira, 20 de dezembro de 2012

Photoactivated Insulin Depot

Parece-me uma excelente ideia, mas só acredito vendo... De qualquer forma, fico com as seguintes dúvidas: Tamanho do depósito - seria perceptível por debaixo da pele? Tempo médio de duração no corpo (claro que dependerá das necessidades de insulina de cada um e também da validade da própria insulina... um cartucho aberto não dura, à temperatura ambiente, mais de 28 dias... será que a tal membrana a protege da temperatura)? Processo de colocação - em casa? Tamanho do aparelho que emite o feixe de luz?
Vou tentar arranjar, na net, as respostas a estas perguntas, mas, para já, deixo-vos o artigo.

'Researchers at the University of Missouri-Kansas City have discovered a way to make insulin administration easier and more effective. This breakthrough could affect tens of millions of Type 1 diabetics worldwide by replacing needle sticks with a beam of light. (...)
With a photoactivated depot (PAD), insulin is linked to an insoluble polymer by a connection that can be broken with light. The depot can be injected just under the patient’s skin. Insulin can then be released from the polymer by light irradiation through the skin, and then absorbed into the body. Since one injected depot can contain a large amount of insulin, the PAD has the potential to eliminate hundreds of injections.'

4 comentários:

  1. Também tenho as minhas dúvidas!!!

    ResponderEliminar
  2. Hi,
    You have some great questions. I will try to answer your questions as I am one of the co-authors. This is the first article in the area and the research continues more answers will be unraveled.

    Size deposit - would be noticeable underneath the skin?
    Yes, the depot may make a bleb like mark at the site of injection depending upon the volume of injection. The depot size can be easily controlled with chemistry

    Average duration in the body (of course depend on the insulin needs of each and also the validity of their own insulin ... open a cartridge does not last, at room temperature, over 28 days ... is that such a membrane protects temperature)?

    Insulin is linked to the resin with a chemical link can potentially protect the insulin from degradation by enzymes of the body. However, more studies needs to be done to check temperature related issues. Even if this depot can last for 28 days, it may be able to avoid multiple injections everyday for upto 28 days.

    Placement process - at home?
    We can expect something like a band to wear in the arm or abdomen and then inject the insulin through it.

    Size of the device emitting the light beam?
    The LED itself is very tiny 1 mm square however the device will be large more like in centimeters due to power source and chips. This can be attached to a band.

    ResponderEliminar
  3. Hi PJ. Thank you so much for your answers! I found your work very interesting. I hate needles (which is why the blog name is ecmofobia!) and I consider very welcome any solutions that reduce the number of injections. Keep up the good work! I look forward to your updates!

    ResponderEliminar
  4. Thank you Filipa! We are working on it and hope that more groups and companies may pick it up for further research. We all hate painful needles. Very true!

    ResponderEliminar