The treatment options for type one and two diabetes tend to be tedious and hard to know what is best for each patient. In this research the use of metal organic frameworks was explored as a slow release mechanism for insulin. Metal organic frameworks also known as MOFs, are porous materials made from metal ions connected by varying organic ligands. These MOFs have tunable pore sizes that allow for adsorption and desorption of small proteins such as insulin and amyloid beta. In this case varying MOFs such as H-KUST-1, H-KUST-1/GO (18%) have been investigated for adsorption and desorption properties of insulin while MOF-5 is in the process of being tested for the same properties. It was found that the tested MOFs successfully adsorb and desorb insulin and by varying the conditions of desorption, the rate of desorption can be adjusted. The adsorption was done at room temperature and desorption done in PBS in a 37°C waterbath to mock physiological conditions. Adsorption and desorption were investigated using the techniques of UV-vis, gel electrophoresis, and a fluorometer and from this data it was seen preliminarily that the rate of desorption slowed over time, showing promise for a slow release mechanism.

Investigation of varying metal organic frameworks for the use as a slow release mechanism for insulin

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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