pH-sensitive nanoparticles for oral insulin delivery

1. A method of preparing pH-sensitive insulin-loaded nanoparticles comprising:

(a) mixing one part of insulin and two parts of an internal stabilizer to form solution A which is an internal water phase (W1);

(b) dissolving one part of hydrophobic polymer with a molecular weight from 20,000 to 40,000 daltons and two parts of pH-sensitive polymer in a solvent of dichloromethane and acetone with a volume ratio of 4:1 to 3:1 to form solution B which is an oil phase (O);

(c) forming solution C which is an external phase (W2) comprising an external aqueous stabilizer with a molecular weight from 31,000 to 50,000 daltons;

(d) forming an initial emulsion (W1/O) comprising solution A obtained from (a) and solution B obtained from (b) by first ultrasonic emulsification;

(e) forming a double emulsion (W1/O/W2) comprising the initial emulsion obtained from (d) and the external aqueous stabilizer of solution C obtained from (c) by second ultrasonic emulsification;

(f) forming the pH-sensitive insulin-loaded nanoparticles by evaporation of the solvent, water washing, centrifugation of the nanoparticles, and freeze drying.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said internal stabilizer is a solution of 0.1% polyvinyl alcohol which is mixed with said insulin at pH 2.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said hydrophobic polymer is poly (lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) and said pH-sensitive polymer is HP50 or HP55.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein 0.5-1 mL of said solution A is poured into 3-5 mL of said solution B to form a first mixture, and the first mixture is then immediately subjected to said first ultrasonic emulsification at power of 40-60 W for 30-60 seconds to form said initial emulsion.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said double emulsion is formed by mixing 3.5-6 mL of said initial emulsion and 20-40 mL of said solution C to form a second mixture, and the second mixture is then subject to said second ultrasonic emulsification at power of 40-60 W for 60-120 seconds to form said double emulsion.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said pH-sensitive insulin-loaded nanoparticles are formed by evaporating said solvent from said double emulsion at 45° C. and at 451 mbar for 15 minutes and centrifuging at 10° C. and at 20,000 rpm for 10 minutes to obtain a residue, the residue is then precipitated by said water washing for at least twice followed by said freeze-drying.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles have a mean particle size of about 100-300 nanometers.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the amount of said insulin is about 5 mg while the volume of said 0.1% polyvinyl alcohol solution is about 10 mL.

9. The method of claim 3 , wherein the amount of said poly (lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) is about 50 mg while the amount of HP50 or HP55 is 100 mg.

10. A pH-sensitive nanoparticle for oral administration prepared by the method of claim 1 .

11. An oral composition configured to deliver insulin to a subject in needs thereof in a controlled release manner through gastrointestinal tract comprising a plurality of said pH-sensitive nanoparticles of claim 10 .

12. A pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprising one or more of said pH-sensitive nanoparticles of claim 10 .

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly lactic acid, poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (ratio of lactic acid:glycolic acid=85:15), poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (ratio of lactic acid:glycolic acid=75:25), and poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (ratio of lactic acid:glycolic acid=50:50).

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pH-sensitive polymer is HPMCP selected from the group consisting of HP50 and HP55.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pH-sensitive polymer is HP55.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the internal stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of glycerin and polyvinyl alcohol; wherein the external aqueous stabilizer is polyvinyl alcohol.