Abstract

The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of insulin loaded polymerosomes in diabetic rat model. To achieve the purpose, amphiphilic triblock co-polymers of the class poly(caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(caprolactone), CEC were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization and characterized. Polymerosomes were prepared by double emulsion method in the size range of 75-130 nm at 25 °C as measured by differential light scattering technique. Insulin was loaded in situ during nanoparticle preparation. The release of insulin was observed to be critically dependent on the caprolactone/ethylene glycol ratio and particle size. The pharmacological activity ranged from 22-36 h for various polymerosomes formulations in comparison to poly(caprolactone), PCL nanoparticles which reached the basal level after 4 h of administration. The polymerosomes were therefore seen to enhance the insulin activity as well as its stability in physiological fluid for a prolonged duration.

Keywords: Polymerosomes, poly(caprolactone), poly(ethylene glycol), insulin, release behaviour, in vivo evaluation