Nanomedicine in diabetes management: where we are now and where next

Luminescence-Based Optical Sensors Fabricated by Means of the Layer-by-Layer Nano-Assembly Technique

Luminescence-based sensing applications range from agriculture to biology, including medicine and environmental care, which indicates the importance of this technique as a detection tool. Luminescent optical sensors are required to be highly stable, sensitive, and selective, three crucial features that can be achieved by fabricating them by means of the layer-by-layer nano-assembly technique. This method permits us to tailor the sensors' properties at the nanometer scale, avoiding luminophore aggregation and, hence, self-quenching, promoting the diffusion of the target analytes, and building a barrier against the undesired molecules. These characteristics give rise to the fabrication of custom-made sensors for each particular application.

Multilayer nanoencapsulation: a nanomedicine technology for diabetes research and management

Nanothickness encapsulation using a layer-by-layer technique has applications in several areas of diabetes research, including improved glucose sensors, islet cell transplantation and oral insulin delivery. We have fabricated microvesicles containing a fluorescence lifetime-based glucose sensing system, with bacterial glucose-binding protein as the glucose receptor. Such sensors are suitable for impregnation in the dermis as a 'smart tattoo' type of non-invasive glucose monitoring technology. Nanoencapsulation of islet cells is intended to alleviate the immediate blood-mediated inflammatory reaction which is responsible for early islet loss post-transplant. In an allogeneic diabetic mouse model, nanoencapsulated islets with phosporylcholine-modified polysaccharide coating, significantly extended survival of transplanted islets. In early studies aimed at formulating an effective oral insulin preparation, insulin-chitosan colloids coated with nanolayers of chitosan and heparin had enhanced acid stability and effectively lowered blood glucose in an animal model.