Self-Regulated Insulin Delivery-Artificial Pancreas

A chemical mediated artificial pancreas has been designed that will deliver glycosylated insulin (G-Ins) in response to glucose concentrations. This system is based on the competitive binding between G-Ins and glucose to a saccharide binding substrate, Concanavalin A (Con-A). Con-A has was evaluated as a soluble monomeric protein, enclosed within microcapsules, formed into microspheres, and synthesized as a soluble high molecular weight oligomer. These forms were designed to maintain the binding characteristics of Con-A and G-Ins and to prevent leakage or permeation of Con-A across the device membrane.