Development of a Non-Invasive Chitosan-Based Insulin Cream (W/O/W Emulsion) for Preventing Diabetic Kidney Disease

This study presents the development of a novel, non-invasive insulin cream formulated as a stable water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion for transdermal insulin delivery. A multidisciplinary approach, integrating nanotechnology, biomaterials, pharmacology, and pre-clinical evaluation, was employed to create an innovative insulin delivery system aimed at treating diabetes, particularly in preventing diabetic kidney disease. Current literature lacks widely available insulin creams due to the large size of insulin molecules, which hinder effective skin penetration and systemic absorption. However, the insulin cream developed in this study utilizes chitosan molecules within the emulsion system, which facilitate transdermal insulin transport by temporarily opening inter-epithelial tight junctions. Chitosan’s properties offer several advantages, including: 1) acting as a stabilizer/emulsifier, preventing coalescence of droplets within the W/O/W emulsion system, 2) providing mucoadhesive properties that protect insulin from enzymatic degradation, thus enhancing stability and extending retention time in blood, and 3) exhibiting antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that preserve the emulsion and maintain the integrity of the insulin cream. This novel formulation holds promise for effective and non-invasive insulin therapy in the management of diabetes and the prevention of diabetic kidney disease.