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Updated: Jul 13, 2025

Injectable Supramolecular Polymer-Nanoparticle Hydrogels for Cell and Drug Delivery Applications
Published on: February 7, 2021
Glucose-Responsive Self-Regulated Injectable Silk Fibroin Hydrogel for Controlled Insulin Delivery
Biswanath Maity1, Hariharan Moorthy1, Thimmaiah Govindaraju1
1Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, and School of Advanced Materials (SAMat), Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur P.O., Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India.
Abstract:
Stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems are gaining importance in personalized medicine to deliver therapeutic doses in response to disease-specific stimulation. Pancreas-mimicking glucose-responsive insulin delivery systems offer improved therapeutic outcomes in the treatment of type 1 and advanced stage of type 2 diabetic conditions. Herein, we present a glucose-responsive smart hydrogel platform based on phenylboronic acid-functionalized natural silk fibroin protein for regulated insulin delivery. The modified protein was synergistically self-assembled and cross-linked through β-sheet and phenylboronate ester formation. The dynamic nature of the bonding confers smooth injectability through the needle. The cross-linked hydrogel structures firmly hold the glucose-sensing element and insulin in its pores and contribute to long-term sensing and drug storage. Under hyperglycemic conditions, the hydrogen peroxide generated from the sensing element induces hydrogel matrix degradation by oxidative cleavage, enabling insulin release. In vivo studies in a type 1 diabetic Wistar rat model revealed that the controlled insulin release from the hydrogel restored diabetic glucose level to physiological conditions for 36 h. This work establishes the functional modification of silk fibroin into a glucose-responsive hydrogel platform for regulated and functional insulin delivery application.
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