Intestinal absorption of insulin nanoparticles: contribution of M cells

Nanodelivery systems have been extensively studied as a strategy for the effective treatment of type 1 diabetes in animal models. Nanoparticle formulations have been shown to contribute to increased intestinal absorption of insulin according to established pathways. It is important to determine whether intestinal absorption of the hormone, specifically occurs through a privileged pathway that is favored because of particular properties of the nanoparticles. Confocal fluorescence microscopy has revealed that nanoparticles-based oral insulin delivery in intestinal tissues causes their accumulation in Peyer's patches. To quantify the preponderance of M cells involved in the overall absorption of insulin in the intestine, in vitro and in vivo results of insulin-loaded nanoparticles were analyzed and criticized based on the utilized method and whether it has translational impact for the treatment of diabetes in humans. The degree of insulin nanoparticles uptake will be interpreted for its effectiveness in the prevention/treatment of other pathologies.

This study investigates nano-formulation based insulin delivery through the oral route, with particular attention to their accumulation in Peyer patches and the role of M-cells in their absorption. While oral delivery of insulin would be an important step from the standpoint of convenience, accurate dosing and issues of potential toxicity need to be considered before clinical translation of this method.