Temperature-Resistant Sugar-Responsive Gel for Insulin Delivery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glucose-responsive drug delivery devices are susceptible to temperature changes, leading to excessive drug delivery, particularly insulin, when body temperature drops, causing hypoglycemia.
Innovation Solution
A glucose-responsive gel composition is developed by incorporating a phenylboronic acid-based monomer and a hydroxyl-containing monomer, such as N-hydroxyethylacrylamide, along with N-isopropylmethacrylamide and a cross-linking agent, which reduces temperature dependence and allows controlled insulin release based on glucose concentration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional glucose-responsive gel is used, then insulin release responds to glucose concentration changes, but the gel is susceptible to temperature changes causing excessive insulin delivery when body temperature drops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining phenylboronic acid-based monomers (for glucose responsiveness) with hydroxyl-containing monomers such as N-hydroxyethylacrylamide and N-isopropylmethacrylamide (providing temperature resistance). This composite gel structure enables the material to simultaneously respond to glucose concentration changes while resisting temperature-induced volume changes, thereby preventing excessive insulin delivery when body temperature fluctuates.
2Productivity
If the gel swells in response to glucose concentration, then insulin release is enhanced, but temperature changes cause unwanted gel expansion leading to hypoglycemia
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different functional properties to different components within the gel composite. The phenylboronic acid-based monomers provide localized glucose-responsive swelling capability, while the hydroxyl-containing monomers (N-hydroxyethylacrylamide and N-isopropylmethacrylamide) provide localized temperature resistance. This spatial differentiation of functions allows the gel to maintain volume stability under temperature changes while still enabling glucose-dependent insulin release.
3Device complexity
If a simple phenylboronic acid gel is used, then the device structure is simple, but the gel cannot distinguish between temperature-induced and glucose-induced swelling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical composition parameters of the gel to include phenylboronic acid-based monomers combined with hydroxyl-containing monomers. This compositional parameter change enables the gel to differentiate between temperature-induced and glucose-induced swelling through its dual-response characteristics, thereby improving glucose concentration detection accuracy without excessively increasing device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The gel composition exhibits excellent temperature resistance, preventing excessive insulin delivery and maintaining stable glucose levels even when body temperature fluctuates, thereby reducing the risk of hypoglycemia.
Implementation Method 1
phenylboronic acid (PBA) which is capable of reversibly binding to glucose
Implementation Method 2
the gel composition of the gel-filled unit is swelled upon binding of glucose
Implementation Method 3
a gel having resistance to temperature change can be produced by adding a monomer having a hydroxyl group such as HEAAm
Implementation Method 4
insulin diffused in the gel-filled unit is released into the blood through an opening in the catheter or needle
Data Source
AI summary
A sugar-responsive gel that is highly resistant to temperature changes, and a sugar-responsive drug delivery device including such a gel. The sugar-responsive gel, which comprises a gel composition including a monomer having a hydroxyl group in addition to a phenylboronic-acid-based monomer, can exhibit suitable temperature resistance. A sugar-responsive drug delivery device including such a sugar-responsive gel is less susceptible to the effects of temperature changes, and therefore can prevent undesirable excessive delivery of a drug such as insulin.