Self-assembled carbohydrate-stabilized ceramic nanoparticles for the parenteral delivery of insulin.

The insulin-bearing aquasomes were fabricated by first preparing the nanosize calcium phosphate dihydrate core. The calcium phosphate dihydrate core was prepared by colloidal precipitation and sonication of disodium hydrogen phosphate solution and calcium chloride solution at low temperature. This core was coated with cellobiose, pyridoxal-5-phosphate, or trehalose under sonication and was further loaded with the drug at low temperature by a partial adsorption mechanism. The prepared systems were characterized for size, shape, size distribution, drug loading efficiency, and in vivo performance. The in vivo performance of the formulated aquasome was compared with standard porcine insulin solution, and better results were observed compared to insulin solution.