Nanoparticle

Solid lipid nanoparticle

Niosome

Materials science

Endocrinology

Vesicle

Biochemistry

Insulin

Liposome

Bioavailability

Drug

Physical chemistry

Drug delivery

Drug carrier

Nanotechnology

Membrane

Oral administration

Aqueous solution

Internal medicine

Pharmacology

Micelle

Medicine

Chemistry

Diabetes mellitus

Molecules

Diabetes mellitus, an incurable metabolic disease, is characterized by changes in the homeostasis of blood sugar levels, being the subcutaneous injection of insulin the first line treatment. This administration route is however associated with limited patient’s compliance, due to the risk of pain, discomfort and local infection. Nanoparticles have been proposed as insulin carriers to make possible the administration of the peptide via friendlier pathways without the need of injection, i.e., via oral or nasal routes. Nanoparticles stand for particles in the nanometer range that can be obtained from different materials (e.g., polysaccharides, synthetic polymers, lipid) and are commonly used with the aim to improve the physicochemical stability of the loaded drug and thereby its bioavailability. This review discusses the use of different types of nanoparticles (e.g., polymeric and lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, dendrimers, niosomes, micelles, nanoemulsions and also drug nanosuspensions) for improved delivery of different oral hypoglycemic agents in comparison to conventional therapies.

Nanoparticle Delivery Systems in the Treatment of Diabetes Complications