Biodegradable phenylboronic acid-modified ε-polylysine for glucose-responsive insulin delivery via transdermal microneedles

J Mater Chem B. 2021 Aug 4;9(30):6017-6028. doi: 10.1039/d1tb00880c.

Abstract

Microneedles with insulin-loaded glucose-responsive particles are promising to control the blood glucose levels of diabetic patients. In particular, the long-term usage of these microneedles calls for biodegradable and cost-effective particles, which are still large challenges. In this paper, glucose-responsive 4-carboxy-3-fluorophenylboronic acid-grafted ε-polylysine (CFPBA-g-PL) was synthesized to meet these requirements. CFPBA-g-PL had low cytotoxicity, good hemocompatibility and no tissue reaction. The pharmacokinetics of CFPBA-g-PL were also studied. The self-assembled particles of CFPBA-g-PL were prepared via simple ultrasonic treatment. The insulin-loaded particles of CFPBA-g-PL (named INS/GRP-12.8) presented a glucose-responsive insulin delivery performance based on the disassembly-related mechanism in vitro. The INS/GRP-12.8-encapsulated microneedle patch with a uniform morphology and moderate skin penetration performance was prepared via a molding strategy. INS/GRP-12.8 lasted for more than 8 hours of normoglycemia on STZ-induced diabetic SD rats via subcutaneous injection and the INS/GRP-12.8-encapsulated microneedle patch also showed a blood-glucose-level-lowering performance in vivo via transdermal administration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Cutaneous
  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / drug effects
  • Boronic Acids / chemistry
  • Boronic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / chemically induced
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / drug therapy
  • Glucose / metabolism*
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Insulin / administration & dosage
  • Insulin / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Needles
  • Polylysine / chemistry
  • Polylysine / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Streptozocin
  • Ultrasonic Waves

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Boronic Acids
  • Insulin
  • Polylysine
  • Streptozocin
  • Glucose
  • benzeneboronic acid