Abstract
The present work investigated the possibility of using mesoporous silica nanoparticles coated with low molecular weight chitosan as an injectable controlled release carrier of insulin. Insulin was totally encapsulated in particles. Surface tension measurements indicated that insulin was absorbed into mesoporous silica pores and interacted with chitosan. The stability of the encapsulated insulin was confirmed by different analytical methods such as RP-HPLC, FTIR and CD. Furthermore, the thermal stability using DSC was in the favor of the encapsulated insulin compared to free insulin. In vivo results indicated that insulin release was prolonged after loading into mesoporous silica nanoparticles. Such particles could be a potential carrier to control the release of insulin.