Insulin delivery using dynamic covalent boronic acid/ester‐controlled release

The number of people affected by diabetes mellitus increases globally year on year. Elevated blood glucose levels may result from a lack of insulin to manage these levels and can, over a prolonged period, lead to serious repercussions. Diabetes mellitus patients must monitor and control their blood-glucose levels with invasive testing and often alongside administration of intravenous doses of insulin, which can often lead to suboptimal compliance. To mitigate these issues, “closed-loop” insulin delivery systems are deemed to be among superior options for rapid relief from the demanding and troublesome necessity of self-directed care. The reversible dynamic covalent chemistry of boronic acid derivatives and their competitive affinity to 1,2- and 1,3-diols (such as those present in saccharides) allows for the design and preparation of responsive self-regulated insulin delivery materials which respond to elevated and changing glucose levels. A range of meritorious and noteworthy contributions in the domain of boron-mediated insulin delivery materials is surveyed, and providing a multidisciplinary context in the realisation of the ambitious goal of ultimately addressing the desire to furnish glucose-responsive insulin delivery materials through innovative synthesis and rigorous testing is targetted.