Poly(N-vinylcaprolactam-co-methacrylic acid) hydrogel microparticles for oral insulin delivery

pH-sensitive copolymeric hydrogels prepared from N-vinylcaprolactam and methacrylic acid monomers by free radical polymerization offered 52% encapsulation efficiency and evaluated for oral delivery of human insulin. The in vitro experiments performed on insulin-loaded microparticles in pH 1.2 media (stomach condition) demonstrated no release of insulin in the first 2 h, but almost 100% insulin was released in pH 7.4 media (intestinal condition) in 6 h. The carrier was characterized by Fourier transform infrared, differential scanning calorimeter, thermogravimetry and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques to confirm the formation of copolymer, while scanning electron microscopy was used to assess the morphology of hydrogel microparticles. The in vivo experiments on alloxan-induced diabetic rats showed the biological inhibition up to 50% and glucose tolerance tests exhibited 44% inhibition. The formulations of this study are the promising carriers for oral delivery of insulin.