Needle-free treatments and more precise drug delivery

IDUN’s research includes self-expanding foil that delivers medicines – e.g. insulin – to the gastrointestinal tract without degradation on the way.

“Much of the medicine we swallow as pills today is broken down in the stomach. Even if it reaches the intestine, it doesn’t necessarily cross the intestinal barrier. We need new solutions so more medicine can be taken orally,” says center manager Anja Boisen.

Other IDUN projects involve small capsules that can collect samples in the intestine and methods for analyzing blood samples quickly and accurately, which will hopefully lead to more individualized dosage.

And if you ask Anja Boisen, we won’t have to wait long before IDUN’s research finds its way into hospitals and clinics.

“Many of the things we are doing look highly promising and will eventually be applicable to humans,” she explains, and points out that IDUN began by researching microscopic containers and has now added a long list of projects that could prove to be game changers in drug delivery.

Although the DNRF grant for IDUN has now expired, new funding means the center will be able to build on its work.

If you would like to know more about IDUN and its fascinating research, take a look here.