Steve G Papermaster, Nano CEO and chairman, is a former senior advisor to President George W. Bush. He has 30 years of experience as a career technology entrepreneur, global speaker, policy expert, and noted author. This article will look at the game-changing potential of nanotechnology as a treatment for diabetes.
Technological innovation is changing the way clinicians treat many diseases, including diabetes. Over the last decade, nanotechnology has become an increasingly important component in diabetes research, with teams looking more closely at nanoparticle design, nanomaterials, nanostructures and their applications in humans.
Nanotechnology has provided more accurate data for diagnosing diabetes mellitus. It has also enhanced drug delivery in areas that were unfavorable for macromolecules. Nanotechnology has paved the way for new implantable sensing technologies, providing medical staff with accurate medical information.
Combining nanotechnology and conventional medicine, ‘nanomedicine’ is poised to enhance human health care. Some of the most exciting applications of nanotechnology to treat diabetes mellitus include using polymeric nanoparticles in place of oral and intravenous administration methods to deliver insulin for diabetes treatment, overcoming the problem of painful and invasive subcutaneous injections.
Gastric enzymes are a major barrier to administering insulin orally, since they degrade insulin in the stomach. However, scientists have discovered that enveloping them in a matrix protects them from the harsh environment of the stomach.
Researchers have even leveraged nanotechnology to develop an artificial pancreas system, comprising a continuous glucose meter and monitor and an insulin infusion pump. Scientists believe this groundbreaking new medical technology could potentially provide a permanent solution for diabetic patients.
Implementation of nanomedicine is rapidly accelerating. It has been found to be useful in the detection of insulin and blood sugar, as well as the treatment of diabetes, effectively bypassing the gastric acidic environment to eliminate the need for daily subcutaneous injections.
Nano presents a multi-faceted set of solutions, helping to usher in a new era of proactive, persistent health protection. Its proven, effective, and accessible technology can be used to not only treat disease but cure it, preventing infectious disease, epidemics, and pandemics.
Nano is committed to ensuring widespread access, placing an emphasis on formulating cures for global distribution. Recognizing the need for faster, more cost-effective and accessible approaches to cure development and distribution, Nano’s in-development lab-to-market framework will include self-administered vaccine technologies and therapeutics available both online and via direct-to-customer channels, such as pharmacies and urgent-care centers.
