RECENT APPROACHES IN INSULIN DELIVERY

Insulin remains indispensable in the management of diabetes mellitus s ince its discovery in 1921. The foreignness of early available porcine and bovine insulin led to the development of human insulin by transpe ptidation and biosynthesis in microorganisms. Needle phobia and stress of multiple daily injections led to the investigation and exploitatio n of all promising routes, ranging from nasal to rectal, by a wide var iety of devices and delivery systems. This article describes the devel opment of human insulin, various routes for delivery of insulin (inclu ding oral, nasal, buccal, rectal, and pulmonary), and various devices for regulated, safe, and convenient insulin delivery. The article revi ews some recent advances in insulin delivery such as the bioresponsive and self-regulated insulin delivery system.