Encapsulated Control: Shaping Insulin Fibrillation through Polymer Confinement.

ABSTRACT: The understanding of insulin conformational changes trapped inside a polymeric capsule is obscure, especially at elevated temperatures above 40 °C. We studied the conformational changes of insulin in bulk solution and upon encapsulation into polymeric self-assemblies formed by poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(N,N,N-trimethylammonioethyl methacrylate) copolymer that is oppositely charged to the protein. We demonstrated that loading insulin into the nanoparticles does not affect its secondary structure but alters the pH sensitivity of insulin, making it more resistant to pH variation in the presence of the polymer. However, the temperature resistance of insulin is weakened in the environment of polyelectrolyte, which causes a lowering of the unfolding temperature,

SUBMITTER: Murmiliuk A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12801316 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature