Alginate Calcium Microbeads Containing Chitosan Nanoparticles for Controlled Insulin Release

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Diabetes Therapy

Background:

• Oral insulin delivery faces challenges due to degradation in the gastrointestinal tract.
• Developing effective delivery systems is crucial for successful diabetes management.
• Chitosan nanoparticles (CNP) offer potential for encapsulating therapeutic agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop alginate microbeads containing chitosan nanoparticles (CNP) for controlled oral insulin delivery.
• To optimize CNP preparation for enhanced encapsulation and stability.
• To evaluate the efficacy of insulin-loaded alginate microbeads in a hyperglycemia mouse model.

Main Methods:

• Chitosan nanoparticles (CNP) were synthesized using tripolyphosphate (TPP) and chitosan, optimized for size and charge.
• Sodium alginate was used to coat CNP, forming alginate microbeads reinforced with CaCl2.
• Protein encapsulation efficiency and release profiles were assessed under varying pH conditions.
• In vivo studies involved administering insulin-loaded microbeads to hyperglycemia model mice to monitor blood glucose levels.

Main Results:

• Optimized CNP exhibited a size of approximately 150 nm with a low polydispersity index (PDI) and strong surface charge.
• Encapsulation efficiency for bovine serum albumin (model protein) was 23.70%.
• Protein release was pH-dependent, with retarded release at acidic pH and promoted release at neutral pH.
• Insulin-loaded alginate microbeads significantly reduced blood glucose levels in mice for up to 96 hours, demonstrating controlled release.

Conclusions:

• Alginate microbeads effectively encapsulate chitosan nanoparticles for controlled insulin release.
• The developed system shows promise for oral insulin administration in diabetes therapy.
• The pH-dependent release mechanism enhances the potential for targeted and sustained drug delivery.