Artificial cells being developed by researchers at UNC and North Carolina State University could help regulate insulin levels for those with diabetes. The artificial cells aim to mimic natural pancreatic beta cells by secreting insulin whenever blood sugar levels rise, responding more efficiently than current insulin pump and injection methods. In tests on mice, the artificial beta cells reduced high blood sugar within an hour and kept levels normal for up to five days. While still early, researchers are working on a patch that could release artificial cells when needed to help control diabetes.

1. Artificial Cells Could Regulate
Insulin in Patients with
Diabetes
Dr. Bruce Hugh Dorman MD

2. Introduction
 Bruce Hugh Dorman, MD, most recently
served as an anesthesiologist in
Fredericksburg, Virginia. Before becoming
an MD, Dr. Bruce Hugh Dorman obtained
his doctorate in pathology at the
University of North Carolina (UNC) at
Chapel Hill.
The UNC School of Medicine engages in
numerous research projects. Recently,
scientists at UNC and North Carolina
State University announced a promising
development for the treatment of type 1
and some cases of type 2 diabetes.
Roughly six million Americans control
their diabetes with insulin delivered by a
pump or injections. While this insulin
does save lives, these methods do not
respond efficiently to changes in blood
sugar levels.

3. Diabetes
 One way to better regulate blood sugar
levels being explored is the use of
artificial cells. An artificial cell is an
engineered biological or polymeric
membrane that performs some of the
tasks of a biological cell. Like the
natural pancreatic cells in people
without diabetes, these artificial beta
cells secrete insulin whenever blood
sugar levels rise.
In a preliminary test, artificial beta
cells implanted in mice reduced high
blood sugar within an hour, and levels
remained normal for up to five days.
Studies in humans are a long way off,
but researchers are already testing a
patch that could release artificial cells
when needed.