Oral insulin delivery by means of solid lip nanoparticles

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Authors: Bruno Sarmento, Susana Martins, Domingos Ferreira, Eliana B Souto

Published Date January 2007 Volume 2007:2(4) Pages 743 - 749

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S

Bruno Sarmento¹, Susana Martins¹, Domingos Ferreira¹, Eliana B Souto^1,2

¹Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; ²Faculty of Health Sciences, Fernando pessoa University, Porto, Portugal

Abstract: The aim of this work was to produce and characterize cetyl palmitate-based solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) containing insulin, and to evaluate the potential of these colloidal carriers for oral administration. SLN were prepared by a modified solvent emulsification evaporation method based on a w/o/w double emulsion. The particle size, zeta potential and association efficiency of unloaded and insulin-loaded SLN were determined and were found to be around 350 nm, negatively charged and the insulin association efficiency was over 43%. After oral administration of insulin-loaded SLN to diabetic rats, a considerable hypoglycemic effect was observed during 24 hours. These results demonstrated that SLN promote the oral absorption of insulin.

Keywords: insulin, solid lipid nanoparticles, oral administration, hypoglycemic effect, cetyl palmitate