Polysaccharide-based micro/nanohydrogels for delivering macromolecular therapeutics

Synthesis and Characterization of Crosslinked Hydrogel of Konkoli (<i>Maesopsis eminii</i>) Grafted Polymethylacrylamide for a Preliminary Study as an Insulin Delivery System

“…The problem of drug concentrations oscillation, and short half-life, which necessitates multiple injections within short intervals of time causing compliance issues, especially when long-term treatment is required as in the treatment of diabetes mellitus by insulin, quest the elimination of injection in insulin delivery [4]. Recently, various approaches have been studied involving many strategies using various technologies showing successes in delivering insulin, which are designed to overcome the inherent barriers for insulin uptake across the gastrointestinal tract, mucosal membrane and skin [4] [5] [6].…”

“…The development of novel materials in controlled drug delivery is focused on the preparation and use of responsive polymers with specifically designed macroscopic and microscopic structural and chemical features, a group into which hydrogels fits [4].…”

“…Such systems include different forms and modifications of polymeric materials, an example of which is the carbohydrate-based polymers, technologically tailored by researchers who envision their use not only for innovative drug delivery systems but also as potential linings for artificial organs, as substrates for cell growth or chemical reactors, as agents in drug targeting and immunology testing, as biomedical adhesives and bioseparation membranes, and as substances able to mimic biological systems [4] [11] [12].…”

“…Some systems under study for insulin delivery base their delivery on the reaction of glucose in the blood with glucose oxidase [4]. These immobilize on polymers within the drug delivery system and the glucose/glucose oxidase reaction causes a lowering of the pH in the delivery system's microenvironment [13].…”

“…Control of the insulin delivery depends on the size of the gates, the concentration of insulin, and the rate of the gates' opening or closing, i.e., response rate [18]. As investigated while monitoring the plasma glucose level of alloxan-induced diabetic rats after oral administration of various doses of insulin-loaded chitosan-nanoparticles, polysaccharides based hydrogels has also reportedly made a good delivery system [4] [12] [19].…”