Increasing the Lifetime of Insulin Cannula with Antifouling and Nitric Oxide Releasing Properties

Many Type 1 diabetes patients utilize insulin pumps, which rely on a small subcutaneous insulin infusion cannula. However, insulin cannulas still suffer from infection and inflammation, which impacts the wear time of the insulin cannula, reduces the efficiency of insulin infusion, and requires frequent rotation of the insulin infusion site. Infection and inflammation of continuous insulin infusion pump therapy are growing issues and are estimated to cost billions of dollars globally each year. This study aims to develop a potent antibacterial and antifouling insulin cannula with a synergistic effect of bioinspired polymers, integrating antifouling Slippery, Liquid-Infused Porous Surface (SLIPs) technology with an active nitric oxide (NO) releasing polymer. The cannulas were developed by impregnating the NO donor molecule S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) and silicone oil (Si) in commercial medical grade silicone rubber tubing (SR-SNAP-Si) via a solvent impregnation process. The efficiency of the SR-S...