Oral bioavailability of insulin contained in polysaccharide nanoparticles

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2007

Authors

Bruno Sarmento (Author) Other; Antonio Ribeiro (Author) Other; Francisco Veiga (Author) Other; Domingos Ferreira (Author) FFUP; Ronald Neufeld (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Biomacromolecules

Vol. 8

Pages: 3054-3060

ISSN: 1525-7797

Publisher: American Chemical Society

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 163 Citations

Scopus - 212 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Chemical sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-004-6XG

DOI: 10.1021/bm0703923

Abstract (EN): The pharmacological activity of insulin-loaded dextran sulfate/chitosan nanoparticles was evaluated following oral dosage in diabetic rats. Nanoparticles were mucoadhesive and negatively charged with a mean size of 500 nm, suitable for uptake within the gastrointestinal tract. Insulin association efficiency was over 70% and was released in a pH-dependent manner under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Orally delivered nanoparticles lowered basal serum glucose levels in diabetic rats around 35% with 50 and 100 IU/kg doses sustaining hypoglycemia over 24 h. Pharmacological availability was 5.6 and 3.4% for the 50 and 100 IU/kg doses, respectively, a significant increase over 1.6%, determined for oral insulin alone in solution. Confocal microscopic examinations of FITC-labeled insulin nanoparticles showed adhesion to rat intestinal epithelium, and internalization of insulin within the intestinal mucosa. Encapsulation of insulin into dextran sulfate/chitosan nanoparticles was a key factor in the improvement of the bioavailability of its oral delivery over insulin solution.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7