Insulin-carrying microspheres, in vitro studies.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Pharmaceutical Technology

Background:

• Microsphere-based drug delivery systems offer controlled release of therapeutic agents.
• Insulin delivery remains a challenge, particularly for oral or sustained release formulations.
• Albumin and starch are biocompatible polymers with potential for microsphere fabrication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the in vitro loading and release characteristics of insulin using albumin and starch microspheres.
• To compare the suitability of albumin and starch microspheres for insulin encapsulation and delivery.

Main Methods:

• In vitro study of insulin loading onto albumin microspheres using 125I-labelled insulin.
• Sorption kinetics and loading capacity determination for albumin microspheres.
• Investigation of insulin sorption into starch microsphere matrix.
• Analysis of insulin release profiles using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Main Results:

• Insulin sorption onto albumin microspheres was complete within 5 hours, with a loading capacity of 0.14% w/w.
• No significant insulin sorption was observed within the matrix of starch microspheres.
• Approximately 80% of loaded insulin was released within 5-10 minutes from both albumin and starch microspheres.

Conclusions:

• Albumin microspheres demonstrate effective insulin loading and rapid release kinetics.
• Starch microspheres did not encapsulate insulin but exhibited rapid release, suggesting potential for surface-adsorbed drug delivery.
• Both microsphere types show potential for rapid insulin release applications, with albumin offering better loading capacity.