Diabetics and multiple sclerosis patients could take their medicine via a capsule or a tablet instead of enduring multiple injections, because of a new development by a UT professor.

Biomedical engineering professor Nikolaos Peppas and other researchers created a gel-like material that could coat a capsule that would deliver protein-based medicine, such as insulin.

Diabetics, who usually inject themselves with insulin two to three times per day, could swallow a gel-coated capsule that would release insulin in their upper small intestine and allow it to enter the bloodstream. The gel will allow the insulin to withstand harsh acidic conditions in the stomach and travel to its final destination.

"The capsules are like boats," Peppas said. "The particles in the capsules have anchors, and in the small intestine they are freed and they stick to the upper small intestine. They are stuck like little crabs, and they start to release insulin."

Peppas said multiple sclerosis patients must have weekly intramuscular shots, and many cannot administer their own injections because they will faint. He also said that after the injections, the patients feel weak and dizzy and experience pain in their bones for up to a day and a half.

"Being in a bed in pain, crying is not a solution to me," Peppas said. "Living with continuous worry is not a good life."

Peppas said the new drug delivery method is more convenient and more comfortable for patients.

"Nobody likes injections," he said. "The patients will like and accept the drug delivery system. It will improve their quality of life."

Chemical engineering professor Keith Johnston, who specializes in pharmaceutical nanotechnology and protein-drug delivery, said the capsules are challenging to develop, but patients will prefer to take their medicine using the new drug technology.

"It does have the potential to allow an alternative to using needles for an injection," Johnston said. "Patients would find it very attractive overall."

The scientists have run tests on animals and cells, and they are in the process of licensing their technology so they can perform clinical studies and file the drug with the Food and Drug Administration.

"No one has reported anything like this," Peppas said. "It's revolutionizing the field of protein delivery."

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