Folate-decorated PLGA nanoparticles as a rationally designed vehicle for the oral delivery of insulin

Aims: The present study reports a novel approach for enhancing the oral absorption and hypoglycemic activity of insulin via encapsulation in folate-(FA) coupled polyethylene glycol (PEG)ylated polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs; FA-PEG-PLGA NPs). Materials & methods: Insulin-loaded FA-PEG-PLGA NPs (size ∼260 nm; insulin loading ∼6.5% [w/w]; encapsulation efficiency: 87.0 ± 1.92%) were prepared by double-emulsion solvent...