Insulin immunological properties

Synthetic polymers were generally preferred to the natural ones in protein conjugation because they are particularly efficient in modifying the biopharmaceutical, stability and immunological properties of insulin. Among the polymers used were polyvinylpyrrolidone, N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamides, and PEGs [12, 13]. 

Factors Influencing the Onset of Diabetes 495 Clinicopathological Correlation 496 Complications of Diabetes 498 Causes of Insulin Deficiency in Diabetes 502 Immunological Properties and Breakdown of Insulin 502 Factors Controlling Glucose Levels in Blood 503 Insulin Secretion 506 Morphology... 

Since insulin is a protein, it can be expected to elicit immunological reactions. In considering the immunological properties of insulin, immune reactions against foreign antigens must be distinguished from autoimmune reactions. 

Noninvasive delivery of insulin via most mucosal membranes requires the use of chemical enhancement for notable insulin absorption (see Section 3.3 and Table II). However, most permeation enhancers have, in addition to their effect on the mucosal membrane, an often pronounced influence on insulin three-dimensional structures. Thus, sodium salicylate (Touitou et al, 1987) as well as bile salts (Gordon etal, 1985) have been shown to dissociate insulin oligomers into monomers. This effect improves membrane permeability, but it may also reduce the physical stability and increase the susceptibility of insulin to enzymatic degradation. The exposure of new epitopes may also influence the immunological properties of the insulin formulation. 

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