Glucose-Sensitive Hydrogels for the Controlled Release of Insulin

Hydrogels with an increased content of fine pores are synthesized via the copolymerization of acrylamide with N-(2-D-glucose) acrylamide and N,N-methylenebis(acrylamide) in the presence of concanavalin A and mercaptoacetic acid. Insulin introduced into the hydrogels is spontaneously released in response to increase in the concentration of glucose in the environment via a two-step mechanism similar to that in the case of the pancreas and the maximum rate is observed at the first stage.     

超分子水凝胶作为胰岛素缓释体系的研究

利用α-环糊精(α-CD)与含有聚乙二醇(PEG)链段的聚合物Pluronic F127的超分子作用制备水凝胶.该物理交联水凝胶的交联点包括α-CD与PEG链包合物堆积形成的微晶区和聚合物疏水链段聚集区.优化水凝胶组分,得到具有较低固含量和较短凝胶化时间的体系用于胰岛素的负载和释放研究.通过X射线衍射(XRD),扫描显微镜(SEM)对水凝胶结构进行表征.通过紫外分光光度计监测胰岛素的释放过程,结果表明,水凝胶释药时间约为65 h,且释放曲线较为平缓.细胞毒性实验结果表明该水凝胶材料对细胞生长无明显抑制作用.小鼠体内释药实验结果表明该水凝胶载体对延长胰岛素的释药时间有一定效果,可作为多肽类药物的缓释体系.     

药物释放环境对层状复合氢氧化物载体的影响

以层状复合氢氧化物(LDH)为载体用离子交换法制取乙酰苯甲酸(ASP)的插层复合物LDH-ASP, 通过体外释放实验和固相XRD、FT-IR、TEM、TG-DSC及BET-N2比表面积表征, 研究了药物释放环境对载体结构的影响. 结果表明释放环境pH为4.30-6.89时, 载体的层状特征减弱但晶体类型不变; pH为2.48-4.30时, H2PO-4对LDH的嫁接反应引起层状化合物向复杂磷酸盐转化; 随环境pH由6.89降低至2.48, 载体纯度下降, 晶态性征减弱,微孔吸附活性降低.     

Pulsatile Release of Insulin from Layer-by-Layer Assembled Microgel Thin Films

We describe studies concerning the construction and characterization of insulin-impregnated poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) microgel thin films prepared by Layer-by-Layer (LbL) polyelectrolyte assembly. These films can be built up in a highly uniform fashion and display linear buildup dependence even up to 30 layers. Thermoresponsivity of these drug loaded films can be utilized to obtain extended pulsatile release of insulin over many cycles. Continuous thermal pulsing allows solubilization of the embedded peptide and subsequent diffusion through the film layers. The magnitude of release can be tuned based on film thickness. This type of microgel thin film construct proves to be extremely robust and can potentially pulse out constant bursts of peptide for more than one month at a time.     

Controlled Release of Insulin Based on Temperature and Glucose Dual Responsive Biomicrocapsules

The treatment of diabetes lies in developing novel functional carriers, which are expected to have the unique capability of monitoring blood glucose levels continuously and dispensing insulin correctly and timely. Hence, this study is proposing to create a smart self-regulated insulin delivery system according to changes in glucose concentration. Temperature and glucose dual responsive copolymer microcapsules bearing N-isopropylacrylamide and 3-acrylamidophenylboronic acid as main components were developed by bottom-spray coating technology and template method. The insulinoma β-TC6 cells were trapped in the copolymer microcapsules by use of temperature sensitivity, and then growth, proliferation, and glucose-responsive insulin secretion of microencapsulated cells were successively monitored. The copolymer microcapsules showed favorable structural stability and good biocompatibility against β-TC6 cells. Compared with free cells, the biomicrocapsules presented a more effective and safer glucose-dependent insulin release behavior. The bioactivity of secreted and released insulin did not differ between free and encapsulated β-TC6 cells. The results demonstrated that the copolymer microcapsules had a positive effect on real-time sensing of glucose and precise controlled release of insulin. The intelligent drug delivery system is supposed to mimic insulin secretion in a physiological manner, and further provide new perspectives and technical support for the development of artificial pancreas.     

Thermosensitive Microneedles Capable of On Demand Insulin Release for Precise Diabetes Treatment

As a novel painless and minimally invasive transdermal drug delivery method, microneedles have solved the challenges of microbial infection and tissue necrosis associated with multiple subcutaneous injections in patients with diabetes. However, traditional soluble microneedles cannot switch drug release on and off according to the patient's needs during long-term use, which is one of the most critical elements of diabetes treatment. Herein, an insoluble thermosensitive microneedle (ITMN) that can control the release of insulin by adjusting the temperature, enabling the precise treatment of diabetes is designed. Thermosensitive microneedles are produced by in situ photopolymerization of the temperature-sensitive compound N-isopropylacrylamide with the hydrophilic monomer N-vinylpyrrolidone, which is encapsulated with insulin and bound to a mini-heating membrane. ITMN are demonstrated to have good mechanical strength and temperature sensitivity, can release significantly different insulin doses at different temperatures, and effectively regulate blood glucose in type I diabetic mice. Therefore, the ITMN provides a possibility for intelligent and convenient on-demand drug delivery for patients with diabetes, and when combined with blood glucose testing devices, it has the potential to form an integrated and precise closed-loop treatment for diabetes, which is of great importance in diabetes management.     

Thermally Responsive Hydrogel Blends: A General Drug Carrier Model for Controlled Drug Release

Thermally responsive hydrogels have drawn significant research attention recently because of their simple use as drug carrier at human body temperature. Here we design a hybrid hydrogel that incorporates a hydrophilic polymer, polyethyleneimine (PEI), into the thermally responsive hydrogel poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm), as a general drug carrier model for controlled drug release. In this work, on one hand, PEI modifies the structure and the size of the pores in the PNIPAm hydrogel. On the other hand, PEI plays an important role in tuning the water content in the hydrogel and controls the water release rate of the hydrogel below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), resulting in a tunable release rate of the drugs at human body temperature (37 °C). Different release rates are shown as different amounts of PEI are incorporated. PEI controls the release rate, dependent on the charge characteristics of the drugs. The hydrogel blends described in this work extend the concept of a general drug carrier for loading both positively and negatively charged drugs, as well as the controlled release effect.     

Preparation and in vitro Release Test of Insulin Loaded W/O Microemulsion

A W/O microemulsion of Tween‐80‐Span‐80/n‐butylalcohol/ethyl‐oleate/H₂O to envelop insulin (INS) was prepared. In order to obtain the maximum solved water, the components of microemulsion to envelop INS were chosen with the pseudo‐ternary phase diagram and the influences of temperature, salinity as well as the pH on microemulsion areas also were investigated. To test the properties of the microemulsion, the conductance was used to divide O/W, W/O and BC regions, the dynamic light scattering to evaluate the particle diameters of microemulsion, the ¹²⁵I isotope tracing method to measure the release rate of INS loaded in W/O microemulsion, and the growth inhibitory effect test to appraise the cytotoxicity on human normal cells. Results show that W/O microemulsion forms when water content below 50% in the microemulsion system. The microemulsion region decreases slightly with the increase of temperature, salinity and the decrease of pH. However, the viscosity measurements along certainly selected dilution lines to the microemulsion indicate that no phase invert occurred. Diameter of microemulsion particle increases with the addition of INS, and the increase is sharp in the first 5 days then very slightly at 68.6 nm within a month. The INS loaded W/O microemulsion possesses eminent sustaining release efficiency and the cytostatic as well as cytotoxic assays illustrate that the microemulsion can be used as drug delivery at small dosage.     

肝素化丝素支架作为骨形态发生蛋白-2缓释载体的研究

骨形态发生蛋白-2(BMP-2)的缓释载体一直是骨组织工程中的研究热点.本研究通过化学改性制备了两种肝素化丝素支架,并浸渍吸附BMP-2,研究了BMP-2在不同丝素支架样品上的吸附能力、体外释放性能及其对人骨肉瘤细胞MG-63碱性磷酸酶活性(ALP)的影响.结果表明,肝素化丝素支架对BMP-2具有较强的吸附能力,并能保持其体外缓慢释放性能;MG-63细胞在肝素化支架上生长状态良好,并具有显著的增殖能力,负载BMP-2后的肝素化支架能显著促进MG-63细胞的分化.因此,肝素化丝素支架是一种较理想的BMP-2缓释载体.     

水溶性药物巯甲丙脯酸/Si-MCM-41载药新体系的制备与缓释作用研究

采用浸渍法将水溶性的抗高血压药物巯甲丙脯酸组装到Si-MCM-41的孔道中,药物组装量达33.99%[m(药物)/m(载体)];用XRD,IR和固体紫外法对药物组装体进行了表征;通过测定组装体在体外模拟人工胃液中的释放速率,表明制得了巯甲丙脯酸/Si-MCM-41缓释释放体系.     

Electrochemically Stimulated Insulin Release from a Modified Graphene‐functionalized Carbon Fiber Electrode

A graphene‐functionalized carbon fiber electrode was modified with adsorbed polyethylenimine to introduce amino functionalities and then with trigonelline and 4‐carboxyphenylboronic acid covalently bound to the amino groups. The trigonelline species containing quarterized pyridine groups produced positive charge on the electrode surface regardless of the pH value, while the phenylboronic acid species were neutral below pH 8 and negatively charged above pH 9 (note that their pK_a=8.4). The total charge on the monolayer‐modified electrode was positive at the neutral pH and negative at pH > 9. Note that 4‐carboxyphenylboronic acid was attached to the electrode surface in molar excess to trigonelline, thus allowing the negative charge to dominate on the electrode surface at basic pH. Negatively charged fluorescent dye‐labeled insulin (insulin‐FITC) was loaded on the modified electrode surface at pH 7.0 due to its electrostatic attraction to the positively charged interface. The local pH in close vicinity to the electrode surface was increased to ca. 9–10 due to consumption of H⁺ ions upon electrochemical reduction of oxygen proceeding at the potential of −1.0 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) applied on the modified electrode. The process resulted in recharging of the electrode surface to the negative value due to the formation of the negative charge on the phenylboronic acid groups, thus resulting in the electrostatic repulsion of insulin‐FITC and stimulating its release from the electrode surface. The insulin release was characterized by fluorescence spectroscopy (using the FITC‐labeled insulin), by electrochemical measurements on an iridium oxide, IrO_x, electrode and by mass spectrometry. The graphene‐functionalized carbon fiber electrode demonstrated significant advantages in the signal‐stimulated insulin release comparing with the carbon fiber electrode without the graphene species.     

Elucidation of the Mechanism of Enhanced Insulin Uptake and Release from pH Responsive Hydrogels

Summary: Environmentally responsive hydrogels composed of poly(methacrylic acid-g-ethylene glycol) (P(MAA-g-EG)) have shown promise for oral insulin delivery due to their pH responsive complexation behavior. A series of hydrogel formulations were polymerized with varying amounts of crosslinker and varying monomer volume fraction. The mesh size of the network depended primarily on pH, varying from 8.0 to 27.2 nm. Insulin loading efficiency varied directly with crosslink density, ranging from 42.7 to 84.9% of available insulin loaded into the hydrogels. The release of insulin was performed with each polymer formulation at 5 pH levels ranging from 2.7 to 6.8. Insulin release was less than 20% for all formulations tested with insulin for the duration of the 3 hour release study for all pH levels considered except when the pH was 6.8, at which point the release occurred as a burst. Loading studies performed with insulin glargine, an insulin analog with an increased pI, showed the same trends as native insulin. However, the release of insulin glargine only occurred at a pH level above that of the pI of the protein. These results indicate that hydrogen bonds and ionic interactions between the protein and P(MAA-g-EG) may strongly influence its loading and release behavior in vitro.     

Utilization of Chitosan-Lactide Copolymer Nanoparticles as Controlled Release Pesticide Carrier for Pyraclostrobin Against Colletotrichum gossypii Southw

Low effective availability of modern pesticides places heavy burdens on both the environment and costs to farmers. Nano-augmented delivery systems seem to be more promising to address the present challenge modern pesticides are facing. In this article, biodegradable chitosan-lactide copolymer (CPLA) was prepared and characterized as hydrophobic pesticide-pyraclostrobin carrier. Nano-precipitation method was used to fabricate pyraclostrobin-loaded nanoparticles. Loading content (LC), encapsulation efficiency (EE), size, and size distribution of the resulting nanoparticles were investigated. The size of pesticide-loaded nanoparticles can be adjusted between 77 to 128 nm by varying the feed mass ratio of copolymer to pyraclostrobin from 50/1 to 5/1. Compounds contained within nanoparticles was protected from light compared with the technical material. The pyraclostrobin-loaded nanoparticles showed an initial burst, subsequent sustained and pH-controlled release profile. Compared to 25% pyraclostrobin emulsifiable concentrate (EC), the nanoparticles demonstrated better fungicidal activity against Colletotrichum gossypii Southw under long incubation time, which further exhibited sustained release characteristic.      

Superparamagnetic Nanocomposites of Poly(vinyl alcohol-graft-acrylonitrile) as Carrier for Magnetically Assisted Release of Ciprofloxacin

In the present study also a superparamagnetic nanocomposite of Poly (vinyl- alcohol-g-acrylonitrile) has been designed by homogeneous impregnation of iron oxide nanoparticles into the graft polymer matrix. The so prepared nanocomposite was characterized by FT-IR, TEM and XRD techniques and studied for water sorption behavior and magnetization properties. The superparamagnetic nanocomposite was loaded with an antibiotic drug, ciprofloxacin (CFx), and its release behavior was investigated under varying experimental conditions such as chemical composition of the matrix, pH of the release media, applied magnetic field and percent loading of the drug. The drug transport mechanism was also analyzed using Ficks power law. The drug loaded magnetic nanocomposite was also studied for antibacterial and in-vitro blood compatible properties.     

pH响应的介孔二氧化硅纳米颗粒的制备及可控释放

选择带负电荷且溶解度和分子结构对pH值非常敏感的聚丙烯酸作为封堵分子, 采用静电吸附的修饰方法, 制备了pH响应的MCM-41型介孔二氧化硅纳米颗粒. 利用高倍透射电子显微镜(TEM)、 X射线衍射(XRD)、 傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)及比表面积分析等手段表征了介孔二氧化硅纳米颗粒的物理化学性质. 以联钌吡啶染料分子作为模式客体分子, 研究了pH调控下的模式客体分子在介孔二氧化硅纳米颗粒中的包裹及释放行为. 结果表明, 该介孔二氧化硅纳米颗粒对pH具有很好的响应性; 在近中性条件下, 带正电的二氧化硅纳米颗粒通过静电吸附作用吸附带负电的聚丙烯酸, 导致介孔封堵, 使包载的染料分子几乎无释放; 客体分子的释放率随着pH值的降低而升高, 当pH≤5时, 染料分子显著释放, pH=1时客体分子的释放率高达98％, 可以实现对包载客体分子的控制释放. 该pH响应的介孔二氧化硅纳米颗粒载体具有制备简便、 价格低廉和包载量大等优点, 有望应用于药物的控制释放.     

Phototriggered Release of a Transmembrane Chloride Carrier from an o‐Nitrobenzyl‐Linked Procarrier

While there have been many studies on synthetic chloride carriers and a recent application for apoptotic cell death, so far, the proposed huge potential of these systems in targeting cancer has not been realized due to their cytotoxicity to healthy cells. Herein, we describe the development of an indole‐2‐carboxamide receptor as an efficient membrane chloride carrier while the corresponding o‐nitrobenzyl‐linked derivative is a procarrier of the ion. Photoirradiation of the procarrier in liposomes results in release of the active carrier with up to 90 % transport efficiency. Such photorelease of the carrier also works within cancer cells, resulting in efficient cell killing. Such photocleavable procarriers have great potential as a photodynamic therapy to combat various types of cancers.     

Thermoresponsive Copolymer/SiO2 Nanoparticles with Dual Functions of Thermally Controlled Drug Release and Simultaneous Carrier Decomposition

The preparation of thermoresponsive drug carriers with a self‐destruction property is presented. These drug carriers were fabricated by incorporation of drug molecules and thermoresponsive copolymer, poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐acrylamide), into silica nanoparticles in a one‐pot preparation process. The enhanced drug release was primarily attributed to faster molecule diffusion resulting from the particle decomposition triggered by phase transformation of the copolymer upon the temperature change. The decomposition of the drug carriers into small fragments should benefit their fast excretion from the body. In addition, the resulting drug‐loaded nanoparticles showed faster drug release in an acidic environment (pH 5) than in a neutral one. The controlled drug release of methylene blue and doxorubicin hydrochloride and the self‐decomposition of the drug carriers were successfully characterized by using TEM, UV/Vis spectroscopy, and confocal microscopy. Together with the nontoxicity and excellent biocompatibility of the copolymer/SiO₂ composite, the features of controlled drug release and simultaneous carrier self‐destruction provided a promising opportunity for designing various novel drug‐delivery systems.     

Glucose‐Regulated Insulin Release from Acid‐Disintegrable Microgels Covalently Immobilized with Glucose Oxidase and Catalase

The fabrication of a novel type of positively charged acid‐disintegrable microgel loaded with insulin by electrostatic interactions and covalently immobilized with glucose oxidase (GOx) and catalase by inverse emulsion polymerization is reported, aiming for glucose‐regulated insulin release by utilizing GOx/catalase cascade enzymatic reactions to trigger local pH decrease and acid‐cleavage of crosslinking moieties. At the same time, a local pH decrease within the microgels also leads to the diminishment of net surface negative charges of encapsulated insulin. The above two factors both synergistically contribute to the prominently enhanced insulin release at high glucose levels (∼10–20 mM ) compared to that in the absence of glucose.     

超微载体

从组成、结构、性能、制备方法及其应用等方面介绍了5种超微载体,其中包括微乳液、微胶囊、球形液晶、脂质体和纳能托.     

Insulin

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