Recent Approaches in Insulin Delivery

Abstract

Insulin remains indispensable in the management of diabetes mellitus since its discovery in 1921. The foreignness of early available porcine and bovine insulin led to the development of human insulin by transpeptidation and biosynthesis in microorganisms. Needle phobia and stress of multiple daily injections led to the investigation and exploitation of all promising routes, ranging from nasal to rectal, by a wide variety of devices and delivery systems. This article describes the development of human insulin, various routes for delivery of insulin (including oral, nasal, buccal, rectal, and pulmonary), and various devices for regulated, safe, and convenient insulin delivery. The article reviews some recent advances in insulin delivery such as the bioresponsive and self-regulated insulin delivery system.