Overview
- A Zhejiang University team reported in Nature that a pH‑responsive polymer, OP, ferries insulin through intact skin without disrupting the barrier.
- The OP–insulin conjugate normalized blood glucose in diabetic mice and minipigs within 1–2 hours and maintained control for about 12 hours.
- Efficacy matched injected insulin in onset while lasting longer, with the conjugate accumulating in glucose‑regulating tissues such as liver, fat, and muscle.
- Short‑term studies found no local skin damage or systemic adverse effects in animals, though chronic toxicity and immunogenicity remain untested.
- Researchers plan dose‑control and human trials and are evaluating the platform for other large drugs, including GLP‑1–based therapies.