Zein-Based Nanoparticles as Oral Carriers for Insulin Delivery

Reboredo, Cristian and González-Navarro, Carlos J. and Martínez-López, Ana Luisa and Martínez-Ohárriz, Cristina and Sarmento, Bruno and Irache, Juan M. (2021) Zein-Based Nanoparticles as Oral Carriers for Insulin Delivery. Pharmaceutics, 14 (1). p. 39. ISSN 1999-4923

[thumbnail of pharmaceutics-14-00039-v2.pdf] Text
pharmaceutics-14-00039-v2.pdf - Published Version

Download (3MB)

Abstract

Zein, the major storage protein from corn, has a GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe) status and may be easily transformed into nanoparticles, offering significant payloads for protein materials without affecting their stability. In this work, the capability of bare zein nanoparticles (mucoadhesive) and nanoparticles coated with poly(ethylene glycol) (mucus-permeating) was evaluated as oral carriers of insulin (I-NP and I-NP-PEG, respectively). Both nanocarriers displayed sizes of around 270 nm, insulin payloads close to 80 µg/mg and did not induce cytotoxic effects in Caco-2 and HT29-MTX cell lines. In Caenorhabditis elegans, where insulin decreases fat storage, I-NP-PEG induced a higher reduction in the fat content than I-NP and slightly lower than the control (Orlistat). In diabetic rats, nanoparticles induced a potent hypoglycemic effect and achieved an oral bioavailability of 4.2% for I-NP and 10.2% for I-NP-PEG. This superior effect observed for I-NP-PEG would be related to their capability to diffuse through the mucus layer and reach the surface of enterocytes (where insulin would be released), whereas the mucoadhesive I-NP would remain trapped in the mucus, far away from the absorptive epithelium. In summary, PEG-coated zein nanoparticles may be an interesting device for the effective delivery of proteins through the oral route.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: zein; insulin; nanoparticles; mucus-permeating; poly(ethylene glycol); oral delivery
Subjects: European Repository > Medical Science
Depositing User: Managing Editor
Date Deposited: 12 Sep 2023 11:08
Last Modified: 12 Sep 2023 11:08
URI: http://go7publish.com/id/eprint/2736

Actions (login required)

View Item
View Item