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Zhejiang University Scientists Pioneer World’s First Non-Invasive Insulin Delivery, Opening New Possibilities for Diabetes Management
Zhejiang University Scientists Pioneer World’s First Non-Invasive Insulin Delivery, Opening New Possibilities for Diabetes Management
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By Dr. Asawari Savant, eHealth Network - 25 November 2025
In a breakthrough transforming global diabetes care, researchers at Zhejiang University, in collaboration with Imperial College London, have achieved the world’s first non-invasive delivery of insulin through the skin—a development that eliminates the need for routine injections. The novel innovation demonstrates a blood glucose–lowering effect comparable to standard insulin injections, marking a major technological leap in macromolecule drug delivery.
Overcoming the Long-Standing Insulin Injection Barrier
For millions of patients with type 1 and advanced type 2 diabetes, daily subcutaneous insulin injections remain the norm. However, these injections bring challenges—pain, needle-related anxiety, skin infections, fat hyperplasia, and reduced compliance. These barriers often result in poor glycemic control and increased long-term complications.
Transdermal drug delivery has been explored for decades, but the skin’s barrier properties typically restrict penetration to small-molecule drugs. Delivering large biological molecules like insulin has long been considered unfeasible.
A Novel Polymer ‘Courier’: OP Enables Deep Skin Penetration
The Zhejiang University team, led by Prof. Shen Youqing, identified a breakthrough polymer known as OP, originally noted for its enhanced permeability in tumour tissues. Subsequent research revealed OP’s unexpected ability to penetrate skin layers, overturning existing assumptions about macromolecule delivery.
Using molecular dynamics simulations, researchers mapped OP’s ability to move through skin structures. By conjugating insulin to OP, creating OP-I, the team demonstrated that the compound can:
- Traverse deep dermal layers
- Enter systemic circulation through lymphatic vessels
- Deliver insulin effectively to key metabolic organs (liver, muscle, fat)
Crucially, the skin barrier remains intact, with no inflammation or structural disruption observed during studies—addressing safety concerns associated with traditional chemical penetration enhancers.
A Platform Technology for Multiple Biologic Therapies
Beyond insulin, the OP-based system has been applied to deliver a range of macromolecules, including:
- GLP-1 agonists (Liraglutide, Semaglutide)
- Therapeutic proteins
- Monoclonal antibodies
- siRNA-based therapies
The technology has already been transferred to industry partners and is moving toward clinical translation.
A Transformational Moment for Global and Indian Pharma
As global demand shifts toward advanced biologics, transdermal platforms, and drug–device combination products, this innovation opens new avenues for Indian companies working in diabetes care, GLP-1 therapies, and biosimilars. The OP-based delivery system—capable of transporting insulin and other macromolecules through the skin—could accelerate collaborations, licensing deals, and technology-transfer partnerships between Indian manufacturers and global innovators. With over 100 million diabetes patients in the country, a pain-free, non-injectable insulin solution also has the potential to dramatically improve treatment adherence, reduce complications, and expand India’s chronic disease management market, aligning seamlessly with national priorities around patient-centric, digitally supported care.
Beyond diabetes, the platform’s compatibility with monoclonal antibodies, siRNA, and peptide-based therapies positions India for strategic expansion into complex biologics for rheumatoid arthritis, oncology, obesity, and immune disorders. Adoption of such next-generation polymer-based delivery technologies can enhance India’s competitive advantage in emerging markets across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. It also provides strong impetus for domestic R&D investment in smart polymers, nanocarriers, and advanced transdermal systems—strengthening India’s long-term leadership in biosimilars, innovative drug delivery, and global pharmaceutical exports.
The world’s first successful non-invasive insulin delivery marks a turning point in biologics administration. For India’s pharma industry—already a global force in generics, biosimilars and affordable therapeutics—this advancement represents both an opportunity and a challenge: to innovate, collaborate and lead in next-generation drug delivery technologies. As clinical translation progresses, this platform could redefine not only diabetes care but the broader landscape of macromolecule therapeutics—paving the way for a future where injection-free chronic disease management becomes a global reality.
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