A scientist is working on an alternative to injections of medications such as insulin. It comes in the form of microscopic plastic beads that you inhale.The plastic particles are coated in a substance native to the lungs, which mostly fools the body into thinking the particles belong there. So a significant immune response isn’t triggered. When the particles reach their target cells, the coating and plastic dissolve slowly over time, releasing the medicine at a programmed pace.The plastic itself is designed to be able to be excreted from the body. Of course, you can’t just put anything in the lungs. Because the individual chemical components that form the plastic material have all been FDA-approved for other medical uses, the scientists hope that the combination of chemicals will also prove to be safe. The danger of ingestion for some medications is that in passing through the stomach, digestive acids may disrupt their effectiveness. Inhalation through the lungs, however, is a quick and painless way to administer drugs. Asthmatics rely on this method of drug administration on a regular basis.