Microrheological characterization and insulin release properties of low-methoxyl pectin hydrogels

Authors

  • Cindy L. Flores Medical Biophysics Group, Department of Physics, University of San Carlos
  • Anthonddiemn Olin M. Navarro Mosquito Research Lab, Department of Biology, University of San Carlos https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4522-3221
  • Lourenz O. Baliber Medical Biophysics Group, Department of Physics, University of San Carlos
  • Marvie Rose A. Madriaga Medical Biophysics Group, Department of Physics, University of San Carlos
  • Wilfred V. Rios Medical Biophysics Group, Department of Physics, University of San Carlos
  • Rommel G. Bacabac Medical Biophysics Group, Department of Physics, University of San Carlos https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6148-6268

Abstract

This study investigates the microscale viscoelastic properties of clarified iota-carrageenan/amidated low-methoxyl pectin (ICPec) hydrogels and their functional behavior in controlled insulin release applications. Using passive microrheology, we characterized the local mechanical properties of these polysaccharide-based hydrogels by tracking embedded microspheres and analyzing their mean squared displacement (MSD). The frequency-dependent viscoelastic moduli were determined using the generalized Stokes-Einstein relation, revealing predominantly elastic behavior at physiologically relevant frequencies ranging from 0.1−10 Hz. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to evaluate insulin release kinetics under basal and glucose-stimulated conditions. Our findings indicate that while ICPec hydrogels demonstrate tunable viscoelastic properties with significant potential for drug delivery applications, they exhibit minimal glucose-responsive insulin release characteristics. The microstructural analysis provides critical insights into the relationship between hydrogel network organization and therapeutic molecule diffusion, contributing to the rational design of biomaterials for controlled drug delivery systems.

SPP2025 Proceedings Cover

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Published

2025-06-14

Issue

2025: Proceedings of the 43rd Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas Physics Conference

Section

Biological and Medical Physics

License

By submitting their manuscript to the Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas (SPP) for consideration, the Authors warrant that their work is original, does not infringe on existing copyrights, and is not under active consideration for publication elsewhere.
Upon acceptance of their manuscript, the Authors further agree to grant SPP the non-exclusive, worldwide, and royalty-free rights to record, edit, copy, reproduce, publish, distribute, and use all or part of the manuscript for any purpose, in any media now existing or developed in the future, either individually or as part of a collection.
All other associated economic and moral rights as granted by the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines are maintained by the Authors.

How to Cite

[1]
“Microrheological characterization and insulin release properties of low-methoxyl pectin hydrogels”, Proc. SPP, vol. 43, no. 1, pp. SPP–2025, Jun. 2025, Accessed: Mar. 31, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://proceedings.spp-online.org/article/view/SPP-2025-2H-03