Long-term treatment of polysaccharides-based hydrogel microparticles as oral insulin delivery in streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic mice.

To develop a more effective and safer drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), polysaccharides-based hydrogel microparticles as oral insulin delivery was prepared and explored. This study was aimed to evaluate the antidiabetic effects and hypoglycemic mechanism with long-term administration(four weeks) of oral insulin hydrogel microparticles in type 2 diabetic mice on a model of diabetes using a high fat diet combined with streptozotocin. The results revealed that the long-term treatment of oral insulin polysaccharides-based hydrogel microparticles could significantly alleviate the symptoms of polyphagia, polydipsia, polyuria and weight loss in diabetic mice. Also, oral administration of insulin hydrogel microparticles could significantly reduce fasting blood glucose levels, ameliorate insulin resistance and increase insulin sensitivity in the mice with T2DM. The concentration of plasma TG, TC, LDL-C, FFA, BUN, CRE significantly decreased and the levels of HDL-C increased showed that insulin polysaccharides-based hydrogel microparticles were effective in regulating lipid metabolism and prevent diabetic nephropathy complication in diabetic mice. In addition, the supplementation of insulin hydrogel microparticles could significant improve the antioxidant capacity by increasing the level of SOD, CAT and decreasing the level of MDA, GPT, NO, TNF-α, and reverse histological deterioration of kidney and pancreas in diabetic mice. The above outcome concluded that insulin polysaccharides-based hydrogel microparticles may exhibit promising anti-diabetic activity and the potential to be a drug candidate for T2DM.

Preparation and evaluation of Bletilla striata polysaccharide/carboxymethyl chitosan/Carbomer 940 hydrogel for wound healing.

This study aims at developing an effective, safe and economic hydrogel, with wound healing ability, by making use of polysaccharides. Bletilla striata polysaccharide (Bsp) and the bioactive natural polymers, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC), were physically blended with Carbomer 940 (CBM940) in order to promote gel-forming and improve water retention. FT-IR displayed hydrogen bonding between CBM940 and CMC played a role in physical gel formation. XRD showed broad and weak intensity peak of Bsp/CMC/CBM940 hydrogel. SEM, rheological measurement and water loss test revealed that the best hydrogel with optimum characteristics in relation to porous structure, elastic property and water retention could be obtained by mixing Bsp, CMC and CBM940 in a ratio of 4:1:1. In vitro studies proved that the Bsp/CMC/CBM940 hydrogel possessed blood compatibility. M293T cells viability was over 85% via MTT assay which revealed non-cytotoxicity. Hydroxyl radical scavenging property highly improved while Bsp combined with CMC. The full-thickness wound experiment illustrated 71.64 ±â€¯6.64% and 83.80 ±â€¯5.56% wound healing rates for Bsp4:CMC1:CBM9401 hydrogel on Day 7 and Day 14, respectively, which showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) in comparison to the positive control. Histological observation expressed epithelization, dense collagen fiber and neovascular formation in hydrogel group on Day 14. Bsp/CMC/CBM940 hydrogel can, hence, serve as an attractive candidate for healing wounds.