NANOPARTICLES USED FOR THE TREATMENT OF DIABETES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22159/ijcpr.2026v18i1.7075Keywords:
Nanoparticles, Diabetes mellitus, Insulin delivery, Glucose-responsive nanomedicine, Polymeric nanoparticles, Lipid-based carriers, Targeted drug delivery, Smart insulin, Preclinical studies, Clinical applicationsAbstract
The worldwide health crisis caused by diabetes mellitus calls for novel therapeutic solutions because traditional treatments have shown their limitations. The review conducts an in-depth evaluation of nanoparticle-based technologies within diabetes care. For this, their functions in drug transport optimization and enhanced substance distribution, along with prolonged blood sugar stabilization capabilities, are examined and investigated. Different types of nanoparticle platforms, which include polymeric, lipid-based, inorganic, and natural nanoparticles, have shown excellent achievements in both preclinical research and clinical practice by delivering targeted drugs while minimizing adverse effects alongside glucose-triggered insulin release. The review explains how smart insulin delivery methods, along with anti-inflammatory care and personalized nanomedicine solutions, have progressed; however, it details the barriers that exist for biocompatibility and regulatory requirements and large-scale production. Laboratory research shows that nanotechnology has great potential for diabetes treatment through independent glucose control systems and simplified drug delivery processes, leading to better healthcare results. Nanoparticles offer promise to achieve disease modification rather than symptom management, even though their production requires solutions, and their long-term effects need further investigation. Nanomedical research should concentrate on maximizing smart nanoparticulate development while creating scalable manufacturing processes and developing patient-customized therapy models to establish nanomaterials fully in diabetes treatment practice.
Downloads
References
1. Rabiee F, Mehralizadeh N, Jalalinezhad S, Ebrahimi Z, Jamali S. Evaluation of the effects of nanoparticles in the treatment of diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Sci Res Dent Med Sci. 2022 Dec 8;4(4):191-5. doi: 10.30485/ijsrdms.2022.375305.1405.
2. Gopalasatheeskumar K, Komala S, Mahalakshmi M. An overview on polymeric nanoparticles used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. PharmaTutor. 2017 Dec 1;5(12):40-6. doi: 10.29161/PT.v5.i12.2017.40.
3. Qin W, Wu Y, Liu J, Yuan X, Gao J. A comprehensive review of the application of nanoparticles in diabetic wound healing: therapeutic potential and future perspectives. Int J Nanomedicine. 2022 Dec 5;17:6007-29. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S386585, PMID 36506345.
4. Daisy P, Saipriya K. Biochemical analysis of Cassia fistula aqueous extract and phytochemically synthesized gold nanoparticles as hypoglycemic treatment for diabetes mellitus. Int J Nanomedicine. 2012 Mar 7;7:1189-202. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S26650, PMID 22419867.
5. Li J, Liu Y, Geng K, Lu X, Shen X, Guo Q. ROS-responsive nanoparticles with antioxidative effect for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy. J Biomater Sci Polym Ed. 2025 Mar 4;36(4):440-61. doi: 10.1080/09205063.2024.2406628, PMID 39316729.
6. Wang M, Zhang Z, Huo Q, Wang M, Sun Y, Liu H. Targeted polymeric nanoparticles based on mangiferin for enhanced protection of pancreatic β-cells and type 1 diabetes mellitus efficacy. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2022 Feb 24;14(9):11092-103. doi: 10.1021/acsami.1c22964, PMID 35199981.
7. Sharma DK, Pattnaik G, Behera A. Recent developments in nanoparticles for the treatment of diabetes. J Drug Target. 2023 Oct 21;31(9):908-19. doi: 10.1080/1061186X.2023.2261077, PMID 37725445.
8. Maity S, Acharyya A, Sankar Chakraborti AS. Flavonoid-based polymeric nanoparticles: a promising approach for cancer and diabetes treatment. Eur Polym J. 2022 Aug 15;177:111455. doi: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2022.111455.
9. Javed B, Ikram M, Farooq F, Sultana T, Mashwani ZU, Raja NI. Biogenesis of silver nanoparticles to treat cancer diabetes and microbial infections: a mechanistic overview. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2021 Mar;105(6):2261-75. doi: 10.1007/s00253-021-11171-8, PMID 33591386.
10. Andreadi A, Lodeserto P, Todaro F, Meloni M, Romano M, Minasi A. Nanomedicine in the treatment of diabetes. Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Jun 27;25(13):7028. doi: 10.3390/ijms25137028, PMID 39000136.
11. Ponnanikajamideen M, Rajeshkumar S, Vanaja M, Annadurai G. In vivo type 2 diabetes and wound-healing effects of antioxidant gold nanoparticles synthesized using the insulin plant Chamaecostus cuspidatus in albino rats. Can J Diabetes. 2019 Mar 1;43(2):82-9.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjd.2018.05.006, PMID 30413371.
12. Holt RI, Flyvbjerg A. Textbook of diabetes. John Wiley & Sons; 2024 Feb 12.
13. Pertiwi R, Asmara N, Wahyudi T, Iriani Y. Illustration book media design diabetes mellitus type 1. Review of International Geographical Education (RIGEO). 2021;11(6):1368‑79. doi: 10.48047/rigeo.11.06.150.
14. Krentz AJ, Weyer C, Hompesch M. Translational research methods in diabetes, obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Berlin: Springer; 2019.
15. Dunaev A, Tuchin V. Biomedical photonics for diabetes research. CRC Press; 2022 Oct 31. p. 278. doi: 10.1201/9781003112099.
16. McNeill JH, editor. Experimental models of diabetes. Routledge; 2018 May 11.
17. Laddha UD, Kshirsagar SJ, Sayyad LS, Ahmed MT, Gaikwad SS, Udavant PB. Development of surface-modified nanoparticles of curcumin for topical treatment of diabetic retinopathy: in vitro ex vivo and in vivo investigation. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol. 2022 Oct 1;76:103835. doi: 10.1016/j.jddst.2022.103835.
18. Laddha UD, Kshirsagar SJ. Formulation of PPAR-gamma agonist as surface modified PLGA nanoparticles for non-invasive treatment of diabetic retinopathy: in vitro and in vivo evidences. Heliyon. 2020 Aug 1;6(8):e04589. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04589, PMID 32832706.
19. Ashrafizadeh H, Abtahi SR, Oroojan AA. Trace element nanoparticles improved diabetes mellitus; a brief report. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2020 Jul 1;14(4):443-5. doi: 10.1016/j.dsx.2020.04.026, PMID 32371187.
20. Afify M, Samy N, Hafez NA, Alazzouni AS, Mahdy ES, El Mezayen HA. Evaluation of zinc-oxide nanoparticles effect on treatment of diabetes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Egypt J Chem. 2019 Oct 1;62(10):1771-83. doi: 10.21608/ejchem.2019.11350.1735.
21. Rho JG, Han HS, Han JH, Lee H, Nguyen VQ, Lee WH. Self-assembled hyaluronic acid nanoparticles: implications as a nanomedicine for treatment of type 2 diabetes. J Control Release. 2018 Jun 10;279:89-98. doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2018.04.006, PMID 29649530.
22. Sharma R, Borah SJ, Bhawna S, Kumar S, Gupta A, Kumari V. Emerging trends in nano-based antidiabetic therapeutics: a path to effective diabetes management. Mater Adv. 2023;4(15):3091-113. doi: 10.1039/D3MA00159H.
23. Hosseinzadeh A, Zamani A, Johari HG, Vaez A, Golchin A, Tayebi L. Moving beyond nanotechnology to uncover a glimmer of hope in diabetes medicine: effective nanoparticle-based therapeutic strategies for the management and treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Cell Biochem Funct. 2023 Jul;41(5):517-41. doi: 10.1002/cbf.3816, PMID 37282756.
24. DiSanto RM, Subramanian V, Gu Z. Recent advances in nanotechnology for diabetes treatment. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Nanomed Nanobiotechnol. 2015 Jul;7(4):548-64. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1329, PMID 25641955.
25. El Baz YG, Moustafa A, Ali MA, El Desoky GE, Wabaidur SM, Iqbal A. Green synthesized silver nanoparticles for the treatment of diabetes and the related complications of hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress in diabetic rats. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2023 Dec;248(23):2237-48. doi: 10.1177/15353702231214258, PMID 38205769.
26. Mitra RN, Nichols CA, Guo J, Makkia R, Cooper MJ, Naash MI. Nanoparticle-mediated miR200-b delivery for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy. J Control Release. 2016 Aug 28;236:31-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.06.020, PMID 27297781.
27. Anand K, Tiloke C, Naidoo P, Chuturgoon AA. Phytonanotherapy for management of diabetes using green synthesis nanoparticles. J Photochem Photobiol B. 2017 Aug 1;173:626-39. doi: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2017.06.028, PMID 28709077.
28. Pan W, Zheng X, Chen G, Su L, Luo S, Wang W. Nanotechnologys application in type 1 diabetes. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Nanomed Nanobiotechnol. 2020 Nov;12(6):e1645. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1645, PMID 32558337.
29. Ribeiro MC, Correa VL, Da Silva FK, Casas AA, Das Chagas AL, De Oliveira LP. Wound healing treatment using insulin within polymeric nanoparticles in the diabetes animal model. Eur J Pharm Sci. 2020 Jul 1;150:105330. doi: 10.1016/j.ejps.2020.105330, PMID 32268198.
30. Om H, El Naggar ME, El Banna M, Fouda MM, Othman SI, Allam AA. Combating atherosclerosis with targeted diosmin nanoparticles-treated experimental diabetes. Investig New Drugs. 2020 Oct;38(5):1303-15. doi: 10.1007/s10637-020-00905-6, PMID 32048108.
31. Shaheen TI, El Naggar ME, Hussein JS, El Bana M, Emara E, El Khayat Z. Antidiabetic assessment; in vivo study of gold and core-shell silver-gold nanoparticles on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Biomed Pharmacother. 2016 Oct 1;83:865-75. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2016.07.052, PMID 27505864.
32. Tang KS. The current and future perspectives of zinc oxide nanoparticles in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Life Sci. 2019 Dec 15;239:117011. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.117011, PMID 31669241.
33. Sheir MM, Nasra MM, Abdallah OY. Chitosan alginate nanoparticles as a platform for the treatment of diabetic and non-diabetic pressure ulcers: formulation and in vitro/in vivo evaluation. Int J Pharm. 2021 Sep 25;607:120963. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120963, PMID 34363919.
34. Alomari G, Hamdan S, Al Trad B. Gold nanoparticles as a promising treatment for diabetes and its complications: current and future potentials. Braz J Pharm Sci. 2021 Nov 26;57:e19040. doi: 10.1590/s2175-97902020000419040.
35. Samavati SS, Kashanian S, Derakhshankhah H, Rabiei M. Nanoparticle application in diabetes drug delivery. J Nanopart Res. 2022 Sep;24(9):178. doi: 10.1007/s11051-022-05547-8.
36. Subramani K, Pathak S, Hosseinkhani H. Recent trends in diabetes treatment using nanotechnology. Dig J Nanomater Biostructures (DJNB). 2012 Jan 1;7(1):85-95.
37. Natesan V, Kim SJ. The trend of organic based nanoparticles in the treatment of diabetes and its perspectives. Biomol Ther (Seoul). 2022 Sep 20;31(1):16-26. doi: 10.4062/biomolther.2022.080, PMID 36122910.
38. Nazief AM, Hassaan PS, Khalifa HM, Sokar MS, El Kamel AH. Lipid-based gliclazide nanoparticles for treatment of diabetes: formulation pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and subacute toxicity study. Int J Nanomedicine. 2020 Feb 18;15:1129-48. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S235290, PMID 32110012.
39. El Salamouni NS, Gowayed MA, Seiffein NL, Abdel Moneim RA, Kamel MA, Labib GS. Valsartan solid lipid nanoparticles integrated hydrogel: a challenging repurposed use in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcer in-vitro/in-vivo experimental study. Int J Pharm. 2021 Jan 5;592:120091. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2020.120091, PMID 33197564.
40. Souto EB, Souto SB, Campos JR, Severino P, Pashirova TN, Zakharova LY. Nanoparticle delivery systems in the treatment of diabetes complications. Molecules. 2019 Nov 20;24(23):4209. doi: 10.3390/molecules24234209, PMID 31756981.
41. Veiseh O, Tang BC, Whitehead KA, Anderson DG, Langer R. Managing diabetes with nanomedicine: challenges and opportunities. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2015 Jan;14(1):45-57. doi: 10.1038/nrd4477, PMID 25430866.
42. Debele TA, Park Y. Application of nanoparticles: diagnosis therapeutics and delivery of insulin/anti-diabetic drugs to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of diabetes mellitus. Life (Basel). 2022 Dec 11;12(12):2078. doi: 10.3390/life12122078, PMID 36556443.
43. Torabian F, Akhavan Rezayat A, Ghasemi Nour M, Ghorbanzadeh A, Najafi S, Sahebkar A. Administration of silver nanoparticles in diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis on animal studies. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2022 Apr;200(4):1699-709. doi: 10.1007/s12011-021-02776-1, PMID 34114175.
44. Woldu MA, Lenjisa JL. Nanoparticles and the new era in diabetes management. Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol. 2014 Mar;3(2):277-84. doi: 10.5455/2319-2003.ijbcp20140405.
45. Choudhury H, Pandey M, Lim YQ, Low CY, Lee CT, Marilyn TC. Silver nanoparticles: advanced and promising technology in diabetic wound therapy. Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl. 2020 Jul 1;112:110925. doi: 10.1016/j.msec.2020.110925, PMID 32409075.
46. El Gharbawy RM, Emara AM, Abu Risha SE. Zinc oxide nanoparticles and a standard antidiabetic drug restore the function and structure of beta cells in type-2 diabetes. Biomed Pharmacother. 2016 Dec 1;84:810-20. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2016.09.068, PMID 27723572.
47. Loera Valencia R, Neira RE, Urbina BP, Camacho A, Galindo RB. Evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of dressings with ZnO nanoparticles in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Biomed Pharmacother. 2022 Nov 1;155:113708. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113708, PMID 36162373.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.