Development and evaluation of a lyophilized product containing insulin

This study aimed at developing and evaluating lyophilized products from F127 (F127) Pluronic solutions containing insulin (INS) and oleic acid (OA) as absorption enhancer. The release of INS from gelatin capsules containing the lyophilized products in different media and at the average size of micelles/vesicles generated in the release media were the parameters evaluated to characterize the formulations. Results indicated that the release media played an important role in the liberation of INS from capsules containing the lyophilized products. Additionally, small micelles/vesicles were formed in the release media during the INS release, which may be decisive for in vivo INS permeation through the intestine membrane. Taking into consideration the smaller size of micelles/vesicle formed in media containing bile salts, and a slower release of INS in these media, F127 formulations containing unsaturated fatty acids are possible candidates for developing oral formulations of insulin.