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Background
Research Summary
The development of protein (here insulin)
delivery devices based on triggering of the delivery
mechanism by the concentration of a biomarker (here
glucose) and other components in the blood has
become a subject of significant research interest.
Development of insulin delivery devices and analysis
of their response in various patient groups is an
important subject for current medical research.
A major goal and contribution of my PhD thesis
research will be the design and development of
glucose-responsive, gel-based devices for insulin
delivery that can be used over a prolonged period of
time. But the broader goal will be to use this
example as a general enzyme-based,
control-responsive release system. These systems are
known as self-regulated drug delivery systems. A
significant distinction of this work is the reliance
on Terry Farmer’s work and control theory to
establish performance objectives for the proposed
hydrogel device, as well as to guide the selection
of optimal parameter values for the synthesis of the
gel. It is noted that the new devices contain
significant features that are different than those
presented or discussed by others in the literature.
Therefore, the specific aims of my PhD thesis
research are the development of a new regimen for
the treatment of diabetes using a self-regulating
feedback system which responds to changes in blood
glucose concentration and pH, leading to abrupt
swelling and deswelling of a controlled drug
delivery device based upon a glucose- and
pH-sensitive hydrogel which releases insulin at
triggered intervals.
The heart of the experimental work of your PhD
thesis research is the development of devices based
on self-regulated, glucose- and pH-sensitive gels
for insulin delivery. These reversible changes allow
for the release of drugs or the permeation of
solutes depending on surrounding environmental
conditions.
We concentrate on the optimization of the GOX and
catalase concentrations and especially the response
studies in real glucose concentrations.
Publications
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