A world is possible in which individuals who are dealing with diabetes and need daily insulin injections, no longer have to rely on needles. The new BuBble Gun technology has been developed to make this world real and make people with diabetes’ daily lives more comfortable. This innovative project, supported by the European Union’s Horizon Programme via the European Research Council (ERC) grant, aims to administer insulin through the skin using a high-speed liquid jet, thereby obviating the requirement for needles.
Painless Injections
The experience of individuals with type 1 diabetes is unfortunately all too common. They depend on painful daily injections. Sometimes, children are also afraid to use their treatment because of the needle. While essential for managing blood sugar levels, these injections pose a constant burden. BuBble Gun, spearheaded by bioengineer Professor David Fernandez Rivas, endeavors to alleviate this challenge. He leads the European project at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. The innovative technique involves utilizing a laser beam to heat insulin in a glass cartridge, generating a rapidly expanding bubble. As the bubble expands, it expels the insulin at remarkable speeds (30-100 meters per second) through a minuscule tube and then into the skin. This process effectively eliminates the need for a needle and makes the treatment easier to use.
The European Project
This technology development has been supported by European grants within the framework of a 4 years project. This initiative was signed on the 21st of October 2019 to strengthen health innovation in the European Union. The project started on the 1st of January 2020 and will end on the 31st of 2024. It is led by the University of Twente where Professor David Fernandez Rivas operates. A total budget of €1.5 million has been unlocked to efficiently support the research.
Broader Applications Beyond Diabetes
The first aim of this innovation’s development is to help people with diabetes. However, that is not the only case where the BuBble Gun could be helpful. This technology harbors the potential to administer various medications, including vaccines, directly into the skin, thereby eliminating the discomfort associated with traditional injections. This holds particular promise for the estimated 25% of individuals afflicted with needle phobia, a fear that can hinder crucial medical interventions. Indeed, people may not want to follow a treatment or to be vaccinated if the process includes a needle which is very dangerous for public health. Moreover, BuBble Gun can be tailored to target specific skin layers, potentially enhancing the efficacy of certain medications in comparison to traditional muscle injections. All in all, this technology represents an important step that could be spread in many health sectors and improve the lives of millions of people who have diabetes or who fear needles.
Challenges and the Path Ahead
A primary challenge for BuBble Gun lies in guaranteeing precise delivery. Skin depth varies based on factors such as age, ethnicity, and lifestyle. Accordingly, the research team is diligently working on adapting the technology’s pressure to accommodate these variations, ensuring that the liquid jet penetrates to the correct depth while avoiding splashback or reaching unintended areas. Since 2018, the researchers have been methodically evaluating BuBble Gun on skin- simulating materials tissue. Then, they tested it on human tissues in 2022. Encouraging results have paved the way for trials on human volunteers expected to commence later in 2024. The team behind BuBble Gun, operating through their startup FlowBeams, anticipates having a functional prototype prepared for potential industry partners by 2025.
A Glimpse into the Future
Professor Fernandez Rivas envisions a future in which BuBble Gun technology is seamlessly integrated into a skin patch for individuals with diabetes. Picture a patch that continuously monitors blood sugar levels and administers insulin automatically based on real-time requirements. Such an advancement would be transformative, particularly for parents who have to constantly monitor (even during the night) if their children need an insulin injection.
The BuBble Gun project represents a wonderful step forward for people with diabetes but also for the rest of the population. This innovation will make needles obsolete in many cases which will allow easier treatments and improvements in the patients’ daily lives.