title: Chitosan-coated solid lipid nanoparticles for insulin delivery.
abstract: The delivery of therapeutic proteins like insulin, exploiting routes of administration different from the traditional injectable forms, has been investigated extensively, taking advantage of the nanotechnology tools available nowadays in the massive drug delivery system pipeline. In this chapter, we describe in detail the preparation of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), further coated with the mucoadhesive polymer chitosan, intended for intestinal absorption of insulin after oral administration. We give special focus on the characterization of the SLN and of the biomacromolecule by itself after encapsulation, because of the intrinsic labile properties of insulin during the manufacturing process. We also describe methods to determine the in vitro intestinal permeability of insulin that solid lipid and chitosan-coated SLN can afford, as well as in vivo models to evaluate the hypoglycemic effect in diabetic animals.
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Research Center, Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde, Norte, Rua Central de Gandra, Gandra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fonte
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Francisca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Cláudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: José das
authors.initials: Jd
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sarmento
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D048271:Chitosan