Development of an Insulin Nano-delivery System through Buccal Administration

The aim of the study was to develop a new nano-delivery system for buccal administration of insulin.

Biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) had undergone countless breakthroughs in drug delivery systems. The main objective of PNPs application in delivering and carrying different promising drugs is to make sure that the drugs are being delivered to their action sites, maximizing the desired effect and overcoming their limitations and drawbacks.

The main goals of this study were to produce an insulin consumable nano-delivery system for buccal administration and enhance the mucoadhesive effect in sustaining insulin release.

Water-oil-water (W-O-W) microemulsion solvent evaporation technique was used for the preparation of nanoparticles consisting of positively charged poly (D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) coated with chitosan and loaded with insulin. Later, a consumable buccal film was prepared by the spin coating method and loaded with the previously prepared nanoparticles.

The newly prepared nanoparticle was assessed in terms of size, charge and surface morphology using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), zeta potential, Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), and Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy. An in vitro investigation of the insulin release from nanoparticles and buccal film demonstrated controlled as well as sustained delivery over 6 hrs. The cumulative insulin release decreased to about 28.9% with buccal film compared to the nanoparticle (50%).

The buccal film acted as a barrier for insulin release. Therefore, the release was sustained.