Microneedle‐Array Patch Fabricated with Enzyme‐Free Polymeric Components Capable of On‐Demand Insulin Delivery

Achieving persistent glycemic control in a painless and convenient way is the ultimate goal of diabetes management. Herein, an enzyme-free polymeric microneedle (MN)-array patch composed of a boronate-containing hydrogel semi-interpenetrated by biocompatible silk fibroin is developed. Consistent with the previous reports, the presence of the boronate-hydrogel allows for glucose-responsive diffusion-control of insulin, while the crystalline fibroin component serves as a matrix-stiffener to validate skin penetration. Remarkably, this enzyme-free smart artificial on-skin pancreas prototype remains stable for at least 2 months in an aqueous environment. Furthermore, it establishes sustained as well as acute glucose-responsive insulin delivery, and is to the authors' knowledge, the first successful material design addressing such two technical challenges at once on an MN format. This long-acting, on-demand insulin delivery technology may offer a candidate for a next-generation diabetes therapy that is remarkably stable, safe, economically efficient, and capable of providing both acute- and continuous glycemic control in a manner minimally dependent on patient compliance.