{"id":3344,"date":"2024-05-08T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-07T23:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hepatitissa.asn.au\/communitynews\/?p=3344"},"modified":"2024-09-04T23:45:24","modified_gmt":"2024-09-04T14:15:24","slug":"dont-like-injectionsa-prick-free-natural-alternative-is-on-the-horizon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hepatitissa.asn.au\/communitynews\/2024\/05\/dont-like-injectionsa-prick-free-natural-alternative-is-on-the-horizon\/","title":{"rendered":"Don&#8217;t like injections? A Prick-Free Natural Alternative is on the Horizon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">Injections as a form of drug delivery for people with chronic diseases, may one day be a thing of the past. Two Australian university researchers are a step closer to replacing the needle with a new drug delivery method for treating chronic diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Charles Darwin University (CDU), two Australian scientists \u2013 phamaceutical scientist Dr Nazim Nassar from CDU, and biophysicist Professor Stefan Kasapis from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology \u2013 have filed an application in the US patent office for a new technology of a \u201cgel-like casing\u201d in an oral tablet form to deliver naturally occurring therapeutic proteins and vaccines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr Nassar focuses on using naturally occurring chemical compounds, such as that in proteins and plants, as an alternative treatment to synthetic compounds that are man-made. He said the hydrogel ball could eliminate injections to deliver anticancer, antimicrobial, and immune system modifying remedies and reduce the need to keep\u00a0the treatment cool in a fridge over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>&#8230;reducing the strain on the healthcare system and its staff &#8230; cuts sector and government funding costs, which could result in hundreds of thousands of dollars redistributed to other medical areas&#8230;<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFor example, patients who are being treated for blindness caused by proliferative diabetic retinopathy, currently, they have to have an injection into their eye, which certainly isn\u2019t the most tolerable experience,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere are also many challenges with managing and administering treatments in the pharmacy, including a high equipment cost, the requirement for healthcare staff to supervise, and patients disliking or fearing needles, even though this is the most effective way of delivering the treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNot to mention that refrigeration is necessary during storage and transport, which certainly increases medication cost enormously and limits the amount of room for storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPharmacies could be like the cold storage area in supermarkets in ten years with the number of treatments that need to be kept cold.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a practicing pharmacist, Dr Nassar said reducing the strain on the healthcare system and its staff also cuts sector and government funding costs, which could result in hundreds of thousands of dollars redistributed to other medical areas for both patients and professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe demand for biological medicines, known for their treatments with fewer side effects and less resistance against them by cancerous cells, for example, is growing with the increasing global prevalence of chronic conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69d74a9d6095f&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69d74a9d6095f\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"526\" height=\"352\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-id=\"3437\" src=\"https:\/\/hepatitissa.asn.au\/communitynews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/drnasimnassar-web.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3437\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hepatitissa.asn.au\/communitynews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/drnasimnassar-web.jpg 526w, https:\/\/hepatitissa.asn.au\/communitynews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/drnasimnassar-web-300x201.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 526px) 100vw, 526px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dr. Nazim Nassar, CDU<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69d74a9d60dbf&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69d74a9d60dbf\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"352\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-id=\"3438\" src=\"https:\/\/hepatitissa.asn.au\/communitynews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/stefan-kasapis-profile-web.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3438\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hepatitissa.asn.au\/communitynews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/stefan-kasapis-profile-web.jpg 400w, https:\/\/hepatitissa.asn.au\/communitynews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/stefan-kasapis-profile-web-300x264.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Prof. Stefan Kasapis, RMIT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOur ageing population is also growing, and so is the prevalence of associated health issues, so the healthcare system needs more ways to ensure treatment is efficient and effective as much as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The study showed that using the hydrogel as a carrier controls the drug&#8217;s release at the most effective site for absorption in the intestine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen the gel expands in the small intestine, it allows water inside, which then transports the biological medicine out of the gel into the small intestine and then transports to the bloodstream,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe hydrogel can withstand temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius and an acidity of pH 2.4, which means it protects the biological medicine, such as insulin, from stomach acidity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSo, this method of drug delivery is more specific and more effective. It can handle high temperatures and acidities, cause fewer side effects, and doesn\u2019t break down as quickly. This hydrogel could encase all sorts of vaccines and other drug delivery methods that can be taken orally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In its media release, CDU said the next stage of the study will be animal trials to determine how the vaccine diffuses in the intestine and activates the immune system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr Nassar and Professor Kasapis  published a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/u26892420.ct.sendgrid.net\/ls\/click?upn=u001.czRgix5dsuISVD4k7s4OuXwrz-2F1Mq7YEU0ccUI4o64i555QH-2BjY25F1upIVOHIfh9eHqhi3BLKC1W5yPiyX162lo6n5YOtqFf2s62HTD43XNIUmYK2iAB2RdB1cm-2F7UEluOWDZSEIZemZrd0ymBhCBGDCRUUY62-2BenlFiFa1zEg-3DkzfU_pIbxPfpDI69aAybPrpOfg42i79KEH4Fs36FQSR-2Bogd83GUGR096wjV2GcIDuprzpOhBd2r-2BUPDNNYZfCs-2BTXM8kJRwcs6V4tw1h4ND0USRVCS9O4zAn9suK8jdY9ZxZtuGCGyO0Eq2APcHxrVd0Ig-2BPvzO19OWmeYNe0D6HB5h40pnOleVp2Kn1T1m0oF3POPwiiCmneIs9f0Ghx54wElSHySWWMPpvAugKJ9vGmqiq9ZgyrpjLUOhOC6aO5efc0zyJXi-2FrTOsMsAz0wBdZxM3jWDqwJkc6IVr2SATnuUWrI71n4yBnywupKtH5Awb8A-2FDOZnqoHJPjH-2F7kgvp3pO9stjOw45OCCFu9VF5anGCA-3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">paper<\/a>&nbsp;on hydrogels in the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/u26892420.ct.sendgrid.net\/ls\/click?upn=u001.czRgix5dsuISVD4k7s4OuXgHvVART3IAn60zAPewc9X2iG0-2FqTFD7m6LKsuvzr3F-2FSwz9ed0RLCcsmFgVYuFn1gTJDVq712RBRxjTs4B4KhH5E7E70ytEyeTqJAwvI2d20EZ_pIbxPfpDI69aAybPrpOfg42i79KEH4Fs36FQSR-2Bogd83GUGR096wjV2GcIDuprzpOhBd2r-2BUPDNNYZfCs-2BTXM8kJRwcs6V4tw1h4ND0USRVCS9O4zAn9suK8jdY9ZxZtuGCGyO0Eq2APcHxrVd0Ig-2BPvzO19OWmeYNe0D6HB5h40pnOleVp2Kn1T1m0oF3POPwiiCmneIs9f0Ghx54wElcYMwSoKjY47Ha1knQne0oVmgx97aZAtAO80HSbTCmReXGayoHez72EoT-2BUoWU-2BBIuDLdFfuG94JS9b8bXUg6xhqAYLavrl1Ve0-2Fp5ggRDpNFrNNL-2FXSSupL4XYlfGES3EYCln0BxwMoaCMoMPjOfPw-3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">International Journal of Pharmaceutics<\/a>&nbsp;last year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Injections as a form of drug delivery for people with chronic diseases, may one day be a thing of the past. Two Australian university researchers are a step closer to &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3434,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"issue":[],"ppma_author":[56],"class_list":["post-3344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-policies-research"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Don&#039;t like injections? A Prick-Free Natural Alternative is on the Horizon | HepSA Community News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/hepatitissa.asn.au\/communitynews\/2024\/05\/dont-like-injectionsa-prick-free-natural-alternative-is-on-the-horizon\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Don&#039;t like injections? A Prick-Free Natural Alternative is on the Horizon | HepSA Community News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Injections as a form of drug delivery for people with chronic diseases, may one day be a thing of the past. Two Australian university researchers are a step closer to &hellip;\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/hepatitissa.asn.au\/communitynews\/2024\/05\/dont-like-injectionsa-prick-free-natural-alternative-is-on-the-horizon\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"HepSA Community News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/HepatitisSA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-05-07T23:30:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-09-04T14:15:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/hepatitissa.asn.au\/communitynews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Hydrogel-1437457704-wirestock-viaiStock-web.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Cecilia Lim\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@hep_sa\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@hep_sa\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Cecilia Lim\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hepatitissa.asn.au\/communitynews\/2024\/05\/dont-like-injectionsa-prick-free-natural-alternative-is-on-the-horizon\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hepatitissa.asn.au\/communitynews\/2024\/05\/dont-like-injectionsa-prick-free-natural-alternative-is-on-the-horizon\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Cecilia Lim\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hepatitissa.asn.au\/communitynews\/#\/schema\/person\/efdf385408c3eb224631b1314de31e49\"},\"headline\":\"Don&#8217;t like injections? 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