Many people around the world need to use insulin and they are not interested in taking medication in the form of injections. Injections also decrease the patient's quality of life. So is there anyway to deliver insulin instead of injection, for example by taking eye droplet?
Hi Ahmadi.
Unfortunately, ocular delivery of insulins is likely not feasible for several (a few reasons have already been mentioned-- especially the issue with concentration).
In addition, the residence time for ocular preparations is short. When a drop is administered, there is loss of most of the dose due to blinking and runoff, and subsequent tearing would continue to remove the dose from the ocular region. Being larger molecules, insulins would also be expected to show slow and low systemic absorption (corneal permeation is not a viable route of systemic absorption either).
By the way, for general background, an article by T. Donner is interesting (and available online) at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK278938/
I hope this helps!
This is an interesting question
Problem is that insulin often causes local hypertrophy at site of insertion, because it is a depot, with high local concentration.
So eyes may have a cosmetic side effect?
Regards
Dear Ahmadi,
You have raised a very thought-provoking question which is also of common interest of all. But i am afraid the idea of eye droplet is not an option because the insulin should be dissolved in acidic solution, which may damage the eyes.
we are now working on the development of microneedles/bioneedles for transdermal insulin delivery. These insulin-loaded microneedles are minimally-invasive, pain-free and suitable for self-administration by patients at home.
Regards
Hi Ahmadi.
Unfortunately, ocular delivery of insulins is likely not feasible for several (a few reasons have already been mentioned-- especially the issue with concentration).
In addition, the residence time for ocular preparations is short. When a drop is administered, there is loss of most of the dose due to blinking and runoff, and subsequent tearing would continue to remove the dose from the ocular region. Being larger molecules, insulins would also be expected to show slow and low systemic absorption (corneal permeation is not a viable route of systemic absorption either).
By the way, for general background, an article by T. Donner is interesting (and available online) at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK278938/
I hope this helps!
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