Targeted folate-conjugated pluronic P85/poly(lactide-co-glycolide) polymersome for the oral delivery of insulin.

Aim: To explore the better efficacy of targeted folic acid (FA)-Pluronic 85-poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (FA-P85-PLGA) polymersome in oral insulin delivery.

Materials & Methods: The cytotoxicity of the polymers, in vitro qualitative and quantitative cellular uptake and the internalization mechanism of insulin-loaded FA-P85-PLGA and PLGA-P85-PLGA polymersomes were studied with the human colon adenocarcinoma cells (Caco-2 cells). Their pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics properties were also studied with diabetic rats.

The targeting properties of folate-conjugated Pluronic F127/poly (lactic-co-glycolic) nanoparticles.

Novel Folated Pluronic F127/poly (lactic-co-glycolic) (FA-F127-PLGA) and PLGA-F127-PLGA block copolymer were synthesized and nanoparticles self-assembled from these two copolymers were prepared by dialysis method. Paclitaxel (PTX) was successfully encapsulated in these two nanoparticles. According to in vitro release studies of PTX-loaded nanoparticles, after an initial burst release during the first 11h, the entrapped PTX released slowly in the following 82h.

A review of biodegradable polymeric systems for oral insulin delivery.

Currently, repeated routine subcutaneous injections of insulin are the standard treatment for insulin-dependent diabetic patients. However, patients' poor compliance for injections often fails to achieve the stable concentration of blood glucose. As a protein drug, the oral bioavailability of insulin is low due to many physiological reasons.