This new variety of insulin negates a primary concern of insulin-dependent people—the portability of the drug.
A team of scientists from the Bose Institute, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), Kolkata and Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad have developed a thermostable version of insulin that does not require refrigeration.
Earlier, insulin had to be kept a temperature of four degree Celsius, this new variety of the drug can withstand up to 65 degree Celsius.
The scientists achieved this by introducing a matrix of four amino acid peptide molecules inside insulin molecules, which prevented their solidification even when not refrigerated.
“You will be able to keep it outside the refrigerator for as long as you want, something that will help diabetes patients across the world, because carrying insulin along with them was considered impossible all this while,” said Subhrangsu Chatterjee, a faculty member at Bose Institute.
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