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Drug Delivery

Drug Delivery

Drug Delivery

Drug delivery interests of the group cover a range of systems and methdologies, including bioresponsive (SMART) insulin delivery systems, and interpenetrated polymer networks for iontophoretic drug delivery.

The InSMART Insulin Delivery project (Dr J. Taylor and Dr Tanna) is pioneering the development of an artificial pancreas for the management of diabetes. The invention is an implantable medical device which can deliver insulin to the patient on a closed-loop or self-regulated basis: that is, in response to an increase in the patient’s blood glucose level, thus mimicking the action of a healthy pancreas. To date no such device has been marketed for long-term use by patients and most still rely on injected insulin, although a few use pumps with manual or programmed continuous dosage. This patented and published research is based on a gel barrier layer that becomes more permeable to insulin molecules when in the presence of glucose because of a competitive displacement mechanism between polymeric and free glucose that determines the structure of the material. The Smart Insulin Delivery Research Group and its spinout company InSmart is now collaborating with other major research groups and companies to undertake the medical engineering and pre-clinical work to produce a prototype suitable for the regulatory approval for human use. Funding for this project includes a NEAT grant, a Lachesis business investment and Faculty support. Recently the group has been negotiating HEFCE funding for the clinical scoping and the design of prototypes via the university’s Innovation Company.

Interpenetrated Polymer Networks (IPNs) are being synthesised and characterised for use as drug reservoirs in drug delivery systems (Dr Schlindwein). This includes, new conducting polymer for medical device applications, such as polymer electrolyte as iontophoretic drug delivery systems. The research has lead to a collaborative project with the Department of Engineering, University of Leicester (UL) for the development of a smart drug delivery system for Parkinson Disease. This system is based on a trans-dermal polymer drug reservoir (DMU) linked with a sensor (UL) that is powered by a solid state polymer battery (DMU).

Research Staff