A Review: The Prospect of Inhaled Insulin Therapy via Vibrating Mesh Technology to Treat Diabetes

Seán M. Cunningham and David A. Tanner
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Seán M. Cunningham: School of Engineering, Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick V94 T9PX, Ireland
David A. Tanner: School of Engineering, Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick V94 T9PX, Ireland

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-14

Abstract: Background : Inhaled insulin has proven to be viable and, in some aspects, a more effective alternative to subcutaneous insulin. Past and present insulin inhaler devices have not found clinical or commercial success. Insulin inhalers create a dry powder or soft mist insulin aerosol, which does not provide the required uniform particle size or aerosol volume for deep lung deposition. Methods : The primary focus of this review is to investigate the potential treatment of diabetes with a wet insulin aerosol. Vibrating mesh nebulisers allow the passive inhalation of a fine wet mist aerosol for the administration of drugs to the pulmonary system in higher volumes than other small-volume nebulisers. Results : At present, there is a significant focus on vibrating mesh nebulisers from the pharmaceutical and biomedical industries for the systemic administration of pharmaceuticals for non-traditional applications such as vaccines or the treatment of diabetes. Systemic drug administration using vibrating mesh nebulisers leads to faster-acting pharmaceuticals with a reduction in drug latency. Conclusions : Systemic conditions such as diabetes, require the innovative development of custom vibrating mesh devices to provide the desired flow rates and droplet size for effective inhaled insulin administration.

Keywords: diabetes; inhaled insulin; vibrating mesh technology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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