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. Boronic acids can reversibly form cyclic boronic esters with appropriate 1,2‐ or 1,3‐ diols, a chemical functionality ubiquitous in saccharides, and underpin many glucose‐responsive technologies. Patients with diabetes may require treatment with insulin to help regulate elevated blood‐glucose levels. Recent advances in the development of boronic ester meditated, glucose‐responsive, and insulin releasing materials for use in diabetes care are highlighted.