Fig. 1: Schematic illustrations of composition and mechanism of Pep/Gal-PNPs for oral insulin delivery.

a The construction of virus surface-inspired ligand-switchable nanoparticles (Pep/Gal-PNPs) modified with both a pH-triggered stretchable cell-penetrating peptide (Pep) and a hepatic targeting moiety (galactose, Gal). b After oral administration, Pep adopts a stretched conformation in response to the acidic environment in the intestine and mediates efficient Pep/Gal-PNPs transport across intestinal barriers. Subsequently, Gal is exposed on the surface as Pep folds at physiological pH in circulation and specifically guides Pep/Gal-PNPs to the liver.