Insulin release under gastric conditions

One-to-one random copolymers of acrylic acid with either hydroxyethyl acrylate (a hydrogel model) or methyl acrylate failed to protect insulin from release under gastric conditions (Figure 6). In the case of the hydrogel, the expected swelling due to exposure to water occurred, releasing insulin. The behavior of the ester copolymer led to the prediction that there should be no more than about four carbon atoms per carboxylic acid group in a repeat unit of the polymers. We have not been able to disprove this hypothesis thus far. 

Figure 6. Release of insulin under gastric conditions from crosslinked 1/1 random acrylic acid copolymers with either hydroxyethyl acrylate or methyl acrylate.

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