A prolonged immune response to antigen delivered in poly (∈-caprolactone) microparticles

• Published in: Immunology and cell biology Vol. 81; no. 3; pp. 185 - 191
• Main Authors: Slobbe, Lynn, Medlicott, Natalie, Lockhart, Euan, Davies, Nigel, Tucker, Ian, Razzak, Majid, Buchan, Glenn
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Nature Publishing Group 01.06.2003; Blackwell Science Ltd
• Subjects: Animals; antibody; Antibody Formation - immunology; Biodegradation, Environmental; Caproates - chemistry; cell‐mediated immunity; Delayed-Action Preparations; Drug Carriers; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; IFN‐γ; immunity; Lactones - chemistry; Lymphocyte Activation - immunology; Male; Mice; microparticulate delivery; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Ovalbumin - administration & dosage; Ovalbumin - immunology; Particle Size; poly ∊‐caprolactone; Polymers - administration & dosage; Polymers - chemistry; vaccine; Vaccines - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 0818-9641; 1440-1711
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1440-1711.2003.01155.x

A single dose vaccine formulation which induces both humoral and cell‐mediated immune responses over a prolonged period would provide a potent weapon against infectious disease. We have used a water‐in‐oil‐in‐oil, solvent evaporation method for generating poly ∊‐caprolactone microparticles and tested their ability to induce an immune response against the model antigen ovalbumin. We hypothesized that the initial release of antigen from the surface of the poly ∊‐caprolactone microparticles would act as the priming dose and that the delayed release over the following months, due to diffusion from or break‐down of the microparticles, would act as a boost to the immune response. Ovalbumin encapsulated in the poly ∊‐caprolactone microparticles was able to induce both antibody and cell‐mediated immune responses. However our results suggest that the spontaneous release had little effect on the immune response. Despite this the response was maintained for at least 8 months following a single immunization. Both humoral and cell‐mediated immune responses were induced in mice. This simple method of vaccine formulation offers a cost‐efficient way to deliver antigen in a single dose to the immune system.