NY Times Summary #1
Abstract
The article “A High-Tech Pill to End Drug Injections” by Gina Kolata published on February 7th, 2019 by The New York Times describes a new discovery regarding the administration of insulin into the bloodstream. The article provides a new alternative to distribute insulin in the body in which a capsule is ingested which provides insulin through the stomach lining. Once the capsule reaches the stomach, sugar holding the posts in place begin to melt due to the stomach environment which pricks the stomach lining providing insulin to the body. This idea was developed based off a tortoise shell as the capsule will always land in the correct position no matter the way it is ingested. This process of ingestion to insulin distribution takes about 10 minutes. The capsule is then passed in your stool. This article provides a discovery that can change the lives of millions of people. The discovery provides an easier solution to taking insulin as many people may be afraid of needles.
Steven Samaroo English 21003
Professor Coppola February 11th, 2019
NY Times Article Summary and Response
The article “A High-Tech Pill to End Drug Injections” by Gina Kolata published on February 7th, 2019 by The New York Times describes a new discovery regarding the administration of insulin into the bloodstream. It is a known fact that the molecules made up in the medicine are too large to be absorbed through the stomach and intestines but it was found that there is a way to administer the medicine in the stomach. The inspiration for this idea came from a tortoise shell. It was established that a prick in the stomach would be the best way to administer the medicine as there are no pain receptors in the stomach. The first step was to develop a way for the device to land in the stomach which is where the inspiration from the tortoise came from. The leopard tortoise has an angular shaped shell allowing it to get back on its feet no matter how it rolls over so the same concept was used for the pill. The pill would always land in the correct position no matter what way it falls. The next step was determining how to release the posts made of insulin. Based on the stomach’s moist and humid environment, sugar is easily dissolved allowing scientists to create a sugar disc which once dissolved releases the posts. Scientists then experimented with how to make the insulin posts where tests were run using dried insulin under different pressures. The process of the the administration of the medicine is you swallow a capsule containing the device which dissolves in 10 minutes releasing the device into the stomach where 5 minutes later the sugar discs dissolve releasing the insulin posts ending off the with device being excreted out. It was found in the tests on rats and pigs that the device released the conventional amount of insulin compared to an injection. Further tests have to be conducted in order to determine if multiple injections damage the stomach. The goal is for this device to not only be used for insulin but many other drugs.
This article is very interesting as this discovery can change the lives of so many people. Millions of people are affected by diabetes and are required to use insulin and a new way to administer the drug in a much simpler way would improve the lives of so many. Also taking into account the fear of needles by many people, the invention of this device will improve the medicine administration process and turn it into something people won’t have to worry about. The invention of this device will not only help those who take insulin but also help those taking other drugs is a major point. With that, millions more people will have easier way to take their required medicines where they can swallow a capsule and not have to worry anymore after. This will allow doctors to prescribe easier alternatives to providing insulin to patients.
