In vivo absorption studies of insulin from an oral delivery system

Alginate microspheres prepared by an emulsion-based process were loaded with insulin by a remote loading process. We observed that the time of exposure, pH of the remote loading medium, and beta-cyclodextrin complexation of insulin influenced drug loading. In vivo absorption studies of insulin from optimized microspheres were carried out in diabetic albino rats. Serum sugar levels on administration of multiple oral doses of the microspheres and a radioimmunoassay for serum insulin indicated absorption of insulin from the gastrointestinal region. This process could be utilized for the development of an oral insulin delivery system.