Immunogenicity of single-dose diphtheria vaccines based on PLA/PLGA microspheres in guinea pigs.

Biodegradable polyester microspheres (MS) have shown potential for single-dose vaccines. This study examined the immunogenicity of diphtheria toxoid (Dtxd) microencapsulated in different types of poly(lactide) (PLA) and poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) MS prepared by the methods of spray-drying and coacervation. We investigated the influence of polymer type (PLGA 50:50 of low M(w); PLA of high M(w); end-group stearylated PLAs of low M(w)) and co-encapsulated excipients (BSA and/or trehalose) on Dtxd content, in vitro release and immunogenicity in guinea pigs. The co-encapsulated trehalose lowered the Dtxd entrapment efficiency in the spray-dried particles from 75 to 56%, whereas albumin alone had no effect in the spray-drying, but improved the encapsulation in the coacervation process. With the hydrophobic, end-group stearylated PLAs, Dtxd could only be encapsulated in the presence of albumin. Guinea pigs immunised with Dtxd-MS made with the relatively hydrophilic PLGA 50:50 exhibited specific and sustained antibody responses over 40 weeks, comparable to the responses to alum-adjuvanted toxoid. In contrast, undetectable or very low antibody responses were determined after immunisation with MS made with hydrophobic polymers. Surprisingly, large (15-60 microm) and small (1-5 microm) MS gave comparable primary antibody responses. In conclusion, the data presented confirm the feasibility of MS vaccines to induce strong, long-lasting protective antibody responses after a single immunisation.