Skip to Content

New Ways to Sniff Drugs

Researchers in India say sniffing a special gold-particle solution could be a new way for diabetics to keep blood sugar under control.

Physicist Murali Sastry and his colleagues at the National Chemical Laboratory in Pune, India, loaded insulin on the surface of gold nano-particles about five nanometers in diameter by capping the particles with aspartic acid, an amino acid. The acid produces a charge that allows the insulin to adhere through electrostatic interactions. In results published this year, the technique reduced blood sugar levels in diabetic rats by up to 55 percent in about two hours, a drop comparable to the effect of standard insulin injections.

The particles are rapidly absorbed through the mucous membranes in the nasal tract; the Indian researchers say preliminary observations indicate the gold is expelled in urine.

Since insulin-dependent diabetes is a chronic condition, clinical trials would have to wait until the group establishes that there is no bioaccumulation of gold. But if all goes well, the group says, the method could emerge as a new platform for delivering drugs that otherwise must be injected because they break down in the stomach.

“We’re looking at nanogold as a platform technology to deliver a range of drugs,” says Varsha Pokharkar at the Poona College of Pharmacy.

Keep Reading

Most Popular

DeepMind’s cofounder: Generative AI is just a phase. What’s next is interactive AI.

“This is a profound moment in the history of technology,” says Mustafa Suleyman.

What to know about this autumn’s covid vaccines

New variants will pose a challenge, but early signs suggest the shots will still boost antibody responses.

Human-plus-AI solutions mitigate security threats

With the right human oversight, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence can help keep business and customer data secure

Next slide, please: A brief history of the corporate presentation

From million-dollar slide shows to Steve Jobs’s introduction of the iPhone, a bit of show business never hurt plain old business.

Stay connected

Illustration by Rose Wong

Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review

Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.

Thank you for submitting your email!

Explore more newsletters

It looks like something went wrong.

We’re having trouble saving your preferences. Try refreshing this page and updating them one more time. If you continue to get this message, reach out to us at customer-service@technologyreview.com with a list of newsletters you’d like to receive.