Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 9, 2025

Injectable Supramolecular Polymer-Nanoparticle Hydrogels for Cell and Drug Delivery Applications
Published on: February 7, 2021
pH and glucose dual-responsive phenylboronic acid hydrogels for smart insulin delivery
Keke Yang1, Hou Bo1, Dewei Ma1
1Research Institute for Biomaterials, Tech Institute for Advanced Materials Bioinspired Biomedical Materials & Devices Center, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced Inorganic Function Composites, Suqian Advanced Materials Industry Technology Innovation Center, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China. siyuan.chen@njtech.edu.cn.
Abstract:
Phenylboronic acid (PBA) is a widely exploited glucose-sensitive element for constructing glucose-responsive hydrogels to enable smart insulin delivery. However, its relatively high intrinsic pKa affects its binding with glucose under physiological conditions and thus limits its application. Herein, we developed a series of boronate-containing PLP-PBA polymers by conjugating glucose-sensitive 3-aminophenylboronic acid (3-PBA) onto the backbone of a metabolite-derived, pH-responsive poly-L-lysine isophthalamide (PLP) polymer with a pKa value of 4.4 at various substitution degrees. Dual-responsive LME-(PLP-PBA) hydrogels were further synthesized by crosslinking the PLP-PBA polymers with L-lysine methyl ester (LME). The rheological properties and swelling ratio of the hydrogel could be manipulated by the PBA grafting degree and crosslinking ratio. With the increase of pH and glucose concentration, the pore size of the hydrogel enhanced, thus promoting the release of loaded insulin. Under physiological conditions, the hydrogel with optimal formulation could establish acute pH-responsive and glucose-responsive insulin release. The development of this dual-responsive hydrogel suggests a strategy to overcome the high pKa problem associated with PBA and provide a promising delivery system for smart insulin delivery.
More Related Videos
09:31Sustained Administration of β-cell Mitogens to Intact Mouse Islets Ex Vivo Using Biodegradable Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) Microspheres
Published on: November 5, 2016
09:11Alternating Magnetic Field-Responsive Hybrid Gelatin Microgels for Controlled Drug Release
Published on: February 13, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Insulin Formulations: Types and Delivery
Short-acting insulins are divided into...
Insulin: Biosynthesis, Chemistry, and Preparation
Damage or functional impairment of β-cells inhibits insulin production, leading to diabetes. Diabetes treatment...
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Glinides
Glucagon-like Receptor Agonists
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...
Insulin Secretory Vesicles
Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion
Insulin and C-peptide are...