A new injectable shows promise for preventing and treating hypoglycemia

People with diabetes take insulin to lower high blood sugar. However, if glucose levels drop too much (from taking too much insulin or not eating enough sugar), people may experience hypoglycemia, which can lead to dizziness, cognitive impairment, seizures, or coma. To prevent and treat this condition, researchers ACS Center for Science Report encapsulating the hormone glucagon. In mouse trials, when blood sugar levels dropped dangerously low, the nanocapsules became active and quickly restored glucose levels.

Glucagon is a hormone that signals the liver to release glucose into the bloodstream. It is usually given by injection to prevent severe hypoglycemia in people with diabetes. While an emergency glucagon injection may fix blood sugar levels Within approximately 30 minutes, formulations may become unstable and insoluble in water. In some cases, the hormone breaks down rapidly when mixed for injection and clumps together to form toxic fibers. Additionally many hypoglycemic attacks It occurs at night when it is not possible for people with diabetes to test their blood sugar.

To improve the stability of commercial glucagon and prevent hypoglycemia, researchers Andrea Hevener and Heather Maynard studied micelles: nanoscale, soap-like bubbles that can be customized to combine or separate in different environments and are used for drug delivery.

They developed a glucose-sensitive product micelle This substance that encapsulates and protects glucagon in the bloodstream when sugar levels are normal, but dissolves when levels are dangerously low. To prevent hypoglycemia, micelles can be injected in advance and circulate in the bloodstream until needed.

In laboratory experiments, the researchers observed that micelles disintegrate only in liquid environments that mimic hypoglycemic conditions in both the human and mouse bodies: less than 60 milligrams of glucose per deciliter. Then, when mice experiencing insulin-induced hypoglycemia were injected with the special micelles, they reached normal blood sugar levels within 40 minutes.

The team also determined that glucagon-filled micelles remained intact in mice and did not release hormones unless blood was collected. glucose levels It fell below the clinical threshold for severe hypoglycemia. From additional toxicity and biosafety studies in mice, researchers indicate that empty micelles did not cause a trigger. immune response or may cause organ damage.

Although more studies are needed, the researchers say their proof of concept is a first step toward an effective new on-demand method to prevent or reduce extremely low blood sugar levels.