Humoral and cell-mediated immune-responses after administration of a single-shot recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen vaccine formulated with cationic poly(l-lactide) microspheres.

ABSTRACT

The present investigations were aimed to compare the humoral and cell-mediated immune responses between recombinant hepatitis B surface antigens (HBsAg) adsorbed L-PLA microspheres (Ms) vaccine (single-shot) and marketed alum-HBsAg vaccine (two-doses). The blank cationic (cetyltrimethyammoniumbromide) microspheres were prepared by the double emulsion (w/o/w) solvent evaporation technique. The HBsAg was adsorbed onto the surface of blank cationic microspheres. These microspheres were characterized in vitro for their size, shape, adsorption-efficiency, in-process stability, and HBsAg release studies. Specific humoral immune responses (IgM and IgG) and cell-mediated immune responses (cellular-proliferation) assay including release of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and nitric oxide (NO) from host's cells stimulated with HBsAg or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/ concanavalin A (con A) in-vitro were determined. Based on these findings, it was concluded that the single injection (using subcutaneous-route) of the polymeric microspheres produced better immune response (both humoral and cell-mediated) than two injections of a conventional alum-HBsAg vaccine. These data demonstrate high potential of polymeric microspheres for their use as a carrier adjuvant for hepatitis B vaccine.