CHITOSAN MICROCAPSULES AS CONTROLLED-RELEASE SYSTEMS FOR INSULIN

This study analyses the use of chitosan for the production of surface crosslinked microparticulate systems containing insulin. The microcaps ules were prepared by an innovative technique based on interfacial cro sslinkage of different amounts of chitosan solubilized in the inner ph ase of a water/oil emulsion by means of ascorbyl palmitate. The correl ation between the main formulation parameters and the functional prope rties of the microcapsules were analysed. Insulin is incorporated with high efficiency. The peptide release is constant for appreciable peri ods of time. The content of chitosan modulates the main physico-chemic al properties of the matrix.