The enhanced encapsulation, release, and oral hypoglycemic performance of a biomacromolecule surface modified insulin-loaded halloysite nanocomposite: an in vitro and in vivo study

Abstract

To overcome the drawbacks of oral administration of insulin, a surface-modified insulin-loaded nanocomposite was designed and prepared in this work. Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) were employed to improve the insulin encapsulation, PEG-CS and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose phthalate (HPMCP) were selected to surface modify the insulin-loaded HNTs to adjust the release of insulin. As a result, the insulin-loaded HNTs/PEG-CS/HPMCP NCs had good biocompatibility, relatively high drug loading, and pH-sensitive release properties. Oral administration of the NCs produced an effective and relative long-time hypoglycemic effect. Therefore, these NCs can be a promising delivery system to improve the oral bioavailability of insulin.