RESUMO
Bee venom (BV) allergy is potentially dangerous for allergic individuals because a single bee sting may induce an anaphylactic reaction, eventually leading to death. Currently, venom immunotherapy (VIT) is the only treatment with long-lasting effect for this kind of allergy and its efficiency has been recognized worldwide. This therapy consists of subcutaneous injections of gradually increasing doses of the allergen. This causes patient lack of compliance due to a long time of treatment with a total of 30-80 injections administered over years. In this article we deal with the characterization of different MS-PLGA formulations containing BV proteins for VIT. The PLGA microspheres containing BV represent a strategy to replace the multiple injections, because they can control the solute release. Physical and biochemical methods were used to analyze and characterize their preparation. Microspheres with encapsulation efficiencies of 49-75% were obtained with a BV triphasic release profile. Among them, the MS-PLGA 34kDa-COOH showed to be best for VIT because they presented a low initial burst (20%) and a slow BV release during lag phase. Furthermore, few conformational changes were observed in the released BV. Above all, the BV remained immunologically recognizable, which means that they could continuously stimulate the immune system. Those microspheres containing BV could replace sequential injections of traditional VIT with the remarkable advantage of reduced number of injections.
Assuntos
Venenos de Abelha/administração & dosagem , Dessensibilização Imunológica/métodos , Proteínas de Insetos/administração & dosagem , Ácido Láctico/química , Microesferas , Ácido Poliglicólico/química , Adsorção , Anticorpos/imunologia , Reações Antígeno-Anticorpo/imunologia , Venenos de Abelha/química , Venenos de Abelha/imunologia , Venenos de Abelha/farmacocinética , Disponibilidade Biológica , Estabilidade de Medicamentos , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Humanos , Proteínas de Insetos/química , Proteínas de Insetos/imunologia , Proteínas de Insetos/farmacocinética , Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura , Tamanho da Partícula , Copolímero de Ácido Poliláctico e Ácido Poliglicólico , Álcool de Polivinil/química , Porosidade , Ligação Proteica , Conformação Proteica , Espectrometria de Fluorescência , Propriedades de SuperfícieRESUMO
Liposomes have been used as adjuvants since 1974. One major limitation for the use of liposomes in oral vaccines is the lipid structure instability caused by enzyme activities. Our aim was to combine liposomes that could encapsulate antigens (i.e., Dtxd, diphtheria toxoid) with chitosan, which protects the particles and promotes mucoadhesibility. We employed physical techniques to understand the process by which liposomes (SPC: Cho, 3:1) can be sandwiched with chitosan (Chi) and stabilized by PVA (poly-vinylic alcohol), which are biodegradable, biocompatible polymers. Round, smooth-surfaced particles of REVs-Chi (reversed-phase vesicles sandwiched by Chi) stabilized by PVA were obtained. The REVs encapsulation efficiencies (Dtxd was used as the antigen) were directly dependent on the Chi and PVA present in the formulation. Chi adsorption on the REVs surface was accompanied by an increase of ζ-potential. In contrast, PVA adsorption on the REVs-Chi surface was accompanied by a decrease of ζ-potential. The presence of Dtxd increased the Chi surface-adsorption efficiency. The PVA affinity by mucine was 2,000 times higher than that observed with Chi alone and did not depend on the molecule being in solution or adsorbed on the liposomal surface. The liberation of encapsulated Dtxd was retarded by encapsulation within REVs-Chi-PVA. These results lead us to conclude that these new, stabilized particles were able to be adsorbed by intestinal surfaces, resisted degradation, and controlled antigen release. Therefore, REVs-Chi-PVA particles can be used as an oral delivery adjuvant.
