Polymeric Nanoparticles Enabling Intranasal Insulin Delivery: From Systemic Glycemic Control to Nose-to-Brain Therapeutic Applications
Lalit Kumar, Biswajit Dash, Arijit Chaudhuri, K. Kranthi Kumar, Rakesh Kumar, Preeti Shukla, Ashish Sarkar, Ananya BalajiIntroduction:
Subcutaneous administration of insulin can control diabetes mellitus, but it has disadvantages such as poor patient compliance and adherence to the regimen. The intranasal route of insulin delivery may bypass these limitations. However, this method is less effective because of rapid nasal drainage and barriers of the nasal membrane. In this mini-review, the roles of polymeric nanoparticles in the effective delivery of insulin via the intranasal route have been discussed.
Methods:
A review of the literature covering the previous 20 years was conducted on Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and PubMed using preset Boolean keywords and inclusion/exclusion criteria. Additionally, patent literature was found using Espacenet and Google Patents. Information on the physicochemical characteristics, in vivo performance, composition, and safety implications of nanoparticles was collected and gathered.
Results:
The results showed that polymeric nanoparticles improved insulin bioavailability and extended its retention in the nasal mucosa. These nanocarriers were effective in protecting insulin from enzymatic degradation in the nasal cavity. Some of the conjugated nanoparticle formulations, such as peptide-functionalized PLGA and thiolated chitosan nanoparticles, showed improved in vitro performance as compared to conventional insulin solutions. These observations are corroborated in preclinical models with enhanced response to hypoglycemia and improved nose-to-brain delivery.
Discussion:
Polymeric nanoparticles protect insulin, enhance its controlled release, and improve permeability through nasal barriers. The crucial features of polymeric nanoparticles, such as their size, mucoadhesive strength, and surface charge, can be altered to improve their efficiency. However, their entry into the pharmaceutical market will be governed by the development of advanced scale-up procedures and thorough clinical evaluation.
Conclusion:
To summarize, polymeric nanoparticles are a better option to deliver insulin intranasally for controlling hyperglycemia and improving insulin penetration into the brain. The pharmacodynamics of polymeric nanoparticles is an important parameter regulating their efficacy in this regard. Polymeric nanoparticles can improve patient compliance through the non-invasive delivery of insulin.