HUMAN INSULIN BINDING TO ERYTHROCYTE-MEMBRANE

The binding of human insulin to erythrocyte membrane in the form of ghosts, vesicles (ultrasonicated ghosts) , lipid-coated-ghosts or lipid-coated-vesicles was the subject of this study. Insulin was found to associate with ghosts in two mechanisms, by encapsulation and adsorption on the surface. Insulin binding reached equilibrium with a much faster rate with ghosts than the other carriers, due to these two mechanisms. The findings from this study suggest that the use of these carrier-insulin systems may be of value in the delivery of insulin in the treatment of diabetes.