Researchers say they have smuggled genes that produces insulin into the pancreas of mice by hiding them in a tiny "bubble." Then by bursting the bubble with sound waves, the researchers were able to free the insulin genes to infiltrate the pancreas, which normally produces insulin. Once they are there, the genes went to work protecting the organ against the ravages of diabetes. This new technique was considered to be less invasive than other strategies that require direct injections into the pancreas and could be an advancement in the use of
gene therapy against diabetes.
In the study, human genes that produces insulin were hid in gas-filled "micro-bubbles" that they injected intravenously into the body. When the bubbles have reached the pancreas, they are blown open by sound waves produced by an ultrasound machine. The said technique succeeded in boosting the ability of the mice to tolerate
higher glucose levels and showed no evidence that the pancreas was damaged. But the researchers said they are still in the early stages of their study, and it is still a long way to go before they can prove that gene therapy is safe and evident on large animals. Only then that the test can be conducted with human subjects.
