Nanoparticle application in diabetes drug delivery

The management of diabetes, in contrast to the treatment of the disease, is basically aimed at controlling the blood glucose level. Besides the primary changes required in the lifestyle and diet of the patient, drug therapy can play a critical role in the diabetes management. Diabetic drugs are formulated in various forms to permit oral, transdermal, internasal, or delivery by subcutaneous injection. Notably, in formulations intended for controlled release, targeted delivery, and those requiring protection of the therapeutic agent, nanoparticles (NPs) play a crucial role. Nanoparticle-based drug formulations can also alleviate the common side effects associated with the regular administration of pure drugs. In this review, we will consider the impact of NPs on the delivery of both oral and injectable drugs to manage diabetes as well as the potential application of nanotechnology to the development of devices such as microneedles aimed at improving the delivery of diabetes drugs.