Self-assembling film blocks glucose absorption in GIT

“The researchers [at MIT] found that if dopamine is combined with a small amount of hydrogen peroxide in the liquid solution, the catalase in the small intestine produces oxygen and water in response. In turn, the oxygen causes the dopamine molecules to band together and form a PDA polymer film, which coats the small intestine in a matter of minutes. These polymers have muco-adhesion properties, which means that after polymerization, the polymer can attach to the intestinal wall very strongly . . . .   By embedding tiny crosslinkers into the polymer, they found they could make it impenetrable to glucose, a very promising capability that could one day offer an entirely new way for diabetics to manage their condition or help treat other metabolic disorders, such as obesity.”     MORE WITH VIDEO

Image Credit:  Melanie Gonick, MIT and NewsAtlas.com