Triggered release of insulin from glucose-sensitive enzyme multilayer shells

A glucose-sensitive multilayer shell, which was fabricated by the layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly method, can be used as a carrier for the encapsulation and controlled release of insulin. In the present report, glucose oxidase (GOD) and catalase (CAT) were assembled on insulin particles alternately via glutaraldehyde (GA) cross-linking. The resulting core–shell system has been proven to be glucose-sensitive. When the external glucose was introduced, the release ratio of insulin from the protein multilayer can be increased observably. This is likely attributed to the catalysis interaction of CAT/GOD shells to glucose, which leads to the production of H⁺ and thus drops the pH of the microenvironment. Under the acidic conditions, on the one hand, a part of CN bond formed from Schiff base reaction can be broken and thus increasing the permeability of the capsule wall. On the other hand, the solubility of insulin can also be increased. The above factors may be the key control to increase the release of insulin from the multilayer. Therefore, such CAT/GOD multilayer may have a great potential as a glucose-sensitive release carrier for insulin, and may open the way for the further application of LbL capsules in the drug delivery and controlled release, etc.