KOLKATA: Scientists have developed a thermostable insulin which does away with the need to keep it refrigerated. This is being considered a breakthrough in scientific circles, as portability is a huge issue for insulin-dependent diabetes patients.

The research was led by two scientists of the Bose Institute and the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), Kolkata and two others from the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) in Hyderabad. Subhrangsu Chatterjee, a faculty member at Bose Institute, stated that it will now be possible for people to keep insulin outside the refrigerator for as long as they want. This will help diabetes patients globally as carrying insulin along with them was the biggest challenge till now. He stated that they are presently calling it ‘insulock’, but they will appeal to the department of science and technology (DST) to name it after Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose.

The scientists introduced a matrix of four amino acid peptide molecules inside insulin molecules, thus preventing their solidification even when not refrigerated. This novel variety will be able to tolerate a temperature of up to 65 °C, stated the researchers. 

Source: ET Healthworld