Oral glucose-responsive micelles for high-efficiency and safe delivery of insulin in mice and pigs

Diabetes mellitus and its associated complications pose a substantial threat to the lives of more than 828 million individuals globally¹. The narrow therapeutic index and variable bioavailability of current insulin formulations contribute to increased risk of hypoglycemia and undesirable weight gain². Here we describe a worm-like micelle particulate system that can endure the early intestinal tract, efficiently penetrate the intestine, accumulate in the liver and release insulin in a glucose-responsive manner to achieve a long-term blood glucose (BG)-regulating performance.