Effect of Bioadhesive Polymers, Sodium Salicylate, Polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl Ether, and Method of Preparation on the Relative Hypoglycemia Produced by Insulin Enteric-Coated Capsules in Diabetic Beagle Dogs

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe hypoglycemic effect of oral insulin capsules coated with pH-dependent Eudragit® S100 and containing various absorption promoters was studied in hyperglycemic beagle dogs. The absorption enhancers used were bioadhesive polymers, sodium salicylate, and non-ionic surfactants. A comparative study of the bioadhesive polymers, polycarbophil (PC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), and carbopol 934 in insulin-coated capsules revealed no significant difference between the insulin capsules containing these polymers, giving relative hypoglycemia (RH) values ranging from 4.3±2.3% to 6.5±5.1%. It was also found that the method of preparation of the mixture of the bioadhesive polymer with insulin either by physical mixing or freeze-drying did not affect the RH values obtained. Sodium salicylate, when used in insulin enteric-coated capsules (50 mg) mixed with insulin as a physical mixture, or prepared by wet granulation using 10% polyvinyl pyrollidone (PVP), or by freeze-drying, produced RH values ranging from 7.3±2.9% to 9.4±3.7%. When sodium salicylate (100 mg) was used with insulin in freeze-dried granules an RH value of 10±2.6% was produced. As the dose of insulin increased from 6 to 9 U/kg, the area under curve (AUC) of the enteric-coated capsules containing 50 mg sodium salicylate increased from 73.2±27.8% to 121.4±102.7% reduction, but the RH did not change significantly. Insulin capsules containing polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether (POELE) used in its optimum concentration (2%), found in these experiments, produced RH of 9.5±6.8% when prepared as granules by wetting with a few drops of absolute alcohol in the presence of PC (50 mg). Insulin capsules containing lower (1%) or higher (3%) concentrations of POELE and prepared with PC, 50 mg by wet granulation produced lower RH of about 6%. The enteric-coated oral insulin capsules containing insulin (6 or 9 U/kg) and sodium salicylate (50 mg) as an absorption promoter, together with the bioadhesive polymer polycarbophil (50 mg), and prepared either by wet granulation using ethanol or by freeze-drying, are the best formulations to be used. They achieved a reduction in plasma glucose levels of about 25–30% and RH of about 10%. Also insulin (9 U/kg) capsules containing 2% POELE produced a 28% reduction in plasma glucose levels and RH of 9.6±6.8%.