| Abstract: | Effective delivery of therapeutic proteins is important for many biomedical applications. Yet, the stabilization of proteins during delivery and long‐term storage remains a significant challenge. Herein, a trehalose‐based hydrogel is reported that stabilizes insulin to elevated temperatures prior to glucose‐triggered release. The hydrogel is synthesized using a polymer with trehalose side chains and a phenylboronic acid end‐functionalized 8‐arm poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The hydroxyls of the trehalose side chains form boronate ester linkages with the PEG boronic acid cross‐linker to yield hydrogels without any further modification of the original trehalose polymer. Dissolution of the hydrogel is triggered upon addition of glucose as a stronger binder to boronic acid (Kb = 2.57 vs 0.48 m −1 for trehalose), allowing the insulin that is entrapped during gelation to be released in a glucose‐responsive manner. Moreover, the trehalose hydrogel stabilizes the insulin as determined by immunobinding after heating up to 90 °C. After 30 min heating, 74% of insulin is detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay in the presence of the trehalose hydrogel, whereas only 2% is detected without any additives. |
