Brownian dynamics simulation of insulin microsphere formation from break-up of a fractal network

Motivated by a recent experiment on insulin microsphere formation where polyethylene glycol (PEG) is used as the precipitating agent, we have developed a simple theoretical model that can predict the formation of a fractal network of insulin monomers and the subsequent break-up of the fractal network into microsphere aggregates. In our approach the effect of PEG on insulin is modeled via a standard depletion attraction mechanism via the Asakura-Oosawa model. We show that even in the context of this simple model, it is possible to mimic important aspects of the insulin experiment in a Brownian Dynamics simulation. We simulate the effect of changing temperature in our model by changing the well depth of the Asakura-Oosawa potential. A fractal network is observed in a "deep quench" of the system, followed by a "heating" that results in a break-up of the network and subsequent formation of microspheres.