We report successful oral administration of insulin entrapped in amidated pectin hydrogel beads in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats, with a concomitant reduction in plasma glucose concentration. The pectin-insulin (PI) beads were prepared by the gelation of humilin-pectin solutions in the presence of calcium. Separate groups of STZ-diabetic rats were orally administered two PI beads (30 micrograms insulin) once or twice daily or three beads (46 micrograms) once daily for 2 weeks. Control non-diabetic and STZ-diabetic rats were orally administered pectin hydrogel drug-free beads. By comparison with control non-diabetic rats, untreated STZ-diabetic rats exhibited significantly low plasma insulin concentration (0.32+/-0. 03 ng/ml, n=6, compared with 2.60+/-0.44 ng/ml in controls, n=6) and increased plasma glucose concentrations (25.84+/-1.44 mmol/l compared with 10.72+/- 0.52 mmol/l in controls). Administration of two PI beads twice daily (60 micrograms active insulin) or three beads (46 micrograms) once a day to STZ-diabetic rats increased plasma insulin concentrations (0.89+/-0.09 ng/ml and 1.85+/- 0.26 ng/ml, respectively), with a concomitant reduction in plasma glucose concentration (15.45+/-1.63 mmol/l and 10.56+/-0.26 mmol/l, respectively). However, a single dose of PI beads (30 micrograms) did not affect plasma insulin concentrations, although plasma glucose concentrations (17.82+/-2.98 mmol/l) were significantly reduced compared with those in untreated STZ-diabetic rats. Pharmacokinetic parameters in STZ-diabetic rats show that the orally administered PI beads (30 micrograms insulin) were more effective in sustaining plasma insulin concentrations than was s.c. insulin (30 micrograms). The data from this study suggest that this insulin-loaded amidated pectin hydrogel bead formulation not only produces sustained release of insulin, but may also reduce plasma glucose concentration in diabetes mellitus.

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