Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026
09:39
Injectable Supramolecular Polymer-Nanoparticle Hydrogels for Cell and Drug Delivery Applications
Published on: February 7, 2021
Glucose and pH dual-responsive concanavalin A based microhydrogels for insulin delivery
Ruixue Yin1, Zi Tong, Dongzhi Yang
1State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|September 28, 2011
Summary
New microhydrogels respond to glucose and pH for controlled insulin delivery. These Concanavalin A (Con A)-based systems offer potential for self-regulated drug release and sensing applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Drug Delivery Systems
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Developing smart drug delivery systems for precise therapeutic release is crucial.
- Microhydrogels offer versatile platforms for controlled release applications.
- Existing systems often lack responsiveness to multiple physiological cues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create dual-responsive microhydrogels for insulin delivery.
- To investigate the combined effects of glucose and pH on microhydrogel behavior.
- To evaluate the potential of these microhydrogels in self-regulated insulin delivery.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of dual-responsive microhydrogels using Concanavalin A (Con A) and N-(2-(dimethylamino) ethyl)-methacrylamide (DMAEMA).
- Characterization using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), fluorescence microscopy, and particle size analysis.
- In vitro studies to assess insulin release kinetics in response to varying glucose concentrations and pH levels.
Main Results:
- Microhydrogels exhibited dense surface morphology with an average size of 38 μm.
- Demonstrated rapid and responsive insulin release upon changes in glucose concentration and pH.
- Analyzed release kinetics using empirical equations and calculated apparent diffusion coefficients.
- Confirmed the bioactivity of released insulin.
Conclusions:
- The developed Con A-based microhydrogels show significant potential for self-regulated insulin delivery.
- These dual-responsive systems could be utilized in glucose-sensitive actuators and separation technologies.
- The study highlights the efficacy of combining specific binding affinities with responsive polymer chemistry for advanced biomaterials.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:05Insulin Secretory Vesicles
Insulin secretory vesicles release insulin to stimulate blood glucose uptake and regulate carbohydrate metabolism. When the blood glucose levels increase, glucose enters the pancreatic β-islet cells through glucose transporters. Once inside, glucose is metabolized through glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and the electron transport chain, producing ATP. This increase in ATP concentration closes ATP-sensitive potassium channels, leading to depolarization of the membrane and the opening of...
01:27Insulin Formulations: Types and Delivery
Insulin preparations are categorized by their duration of action into short-acting and long-acting types. Two strategies are used to modify insulin's absorption and pharmacokinetic profile: slowing the absorption post-subcutaneous injection, or altering human insulin's amino acid sequence or protein structure. These changes retain the insulin's ability to bind to the insulin receptor, but alter its behavior in solution or after injection.
Short-acting insulins are divided into rapid-acting...
Short-acting insulins are divided into rapid-acting...
01:24Glucagon-like Receptor Agonists
Incretins include glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), which stimulate insulin secretion post-meals. In type 2 diabetes, GIP's efficacy is reduced, making GLP-1 a viable drug target. GIP originates from preproGIP.
GLP-1, when administered in high doses intravenously, triggers insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon release, slows gastric emptying, reduces food intake, and restores normal insulin secretion. However, its rapid inactivation by the...
GLP-1, when administered in high doses intravenously, triggers insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon release, slows gastric emptying, reduces food intake, and restores normal insulin secretion. However, its rapid inactivation by the...
01:27Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion
The pancreatic islets comprising only 1%-2% of the volume are highly vascularized and innervated mini-organs. They contain five endocrine cell types, including β cells that secrete insulin, which is synthesized as a single polypeptide chain, preproinsulin, processed to proinsulin, and finally to insulin and C-peptide. This process is complex and regulated, involving the Golgi complex, the endoplasmic reticulum, and the secretory granules of the β cell.
Insulin and C-peptide are co-secreted in...
Insulin and C-peptide are co-secreted in...
01:06Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Glinides
Repaglinide (Prandin) and Nateglinide (Starlix), known as glinides, are oral insulin secretagogues that stimulate insulin release from pancreatic β cells by closing the ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP channel). Repaglinide controls insulin release from pancreatic β cells by managing potassium efflux. It shares two binding sites with sulfonylureas and also has a unique site, indicating overlapping mechanisms of action. With a rapid onset and a 4-7 hour duration, it effectively manages...
01:25Insulin: Biosynthesis, Chemistry, and Preparation
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of pancreatic β-cells synthesizes preproinsulin, which consists of a signal peptide, A and B chains, and a C-peptide. Preproinsulin is then cleaved and folded into proinsulin, which translocates to the Golgi apparatus for sorting and packaging into secretory granules. In these granules, enzymatic clipping generates insulin and C-peptide.
Damage or functional impairment of β-cells inhibits insulin production, leading to diabetes. Diabetes treatment primarily uses...
Damage or functional impairment of β-cells inhibits insulin production, leading to diabetes. Diabetes treatment primarily uses...