Insulin-loaded W/O/W multiple emulsions: comparison of the performances of systems prepared with medium-chain-triglycerides and fish oil

Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 2004 Nov;58(3):477-82. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2004.03.024.

Abstract

Insulin-loaded W/O/W multiple emulsions (ME) composed of medium-chain triglycerides have been shown to decrease the blood glucose level after oral administration to diabetic rats. Fish oil (very long-chain triglycerides) could be an alternative to medium-chain triglycerides because its chronic consumption has beneficial therapeutic effects. The aim of this work was twofold: to obtain stable fish oil containing ME, based on a formulation optimized in a previous work with low medium-chain triglycerides content, and to compare their characteristics to those of ME composed of medium-chain triglycerides. Due to the higher viscosity and surface tension of fish oil compared to medium-chain triglycerides, preparation of ME appeared difficult to achieve. However, a stable unloaded-ME with low fish oil content was formed, by adapting the emulsification process. The characteristics of unloaded fish oil ME were almost similar to those of medium-chain triglycerides ME. In contrast to medium-chain triglycerides ME, the introduction of insulin did not improve the elasticity and consequently the characteristics and stability of fish oil ME. Nevertheless, the insulin-loaded fish oil containing ME was shown to be stable for 6 weeks at 4 degrees C.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Emulsions
  • Fish Oils / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Insulin / chemistry*
  • Oils / chemistry
  • Surface Tension
  • Triglycerides / chemistry*
  • Water / chemistry*

Substances

  • Emulsions
  • Fish Oils
  • Insulin
  • Oils
  • Triglycerides
  • Water