Body distribution of poly-DL-lactide-poly(ethylene glycol) microspheres with entrapped leptospira interrogans antigens following intravenous and oral administration to guinea-pigs.

Poly-DL-lactide-poly(ethylene glycol) (PELA) microspheres with entrapped antigens were administered intravenously and orally into guinea-pigs to quantitatively determine the in-vivo distribution and release profiles. PELA microspheres containing 125I-labelled outer-membrane protein Leptospira interrogans antigens (125I-OMP) were prepared by double-emulsion solvent extraction procedure, and characterized with respect to size, morphology and in-vitro release profiles. The fractured sections of liver and spleen were inspected by scanning electron microscopy, which indicated that microspheres had successfully been entrapped within the above tissues after intravenous injection and oral administration. At predetermined intervals, the blood and such tissues as the liver, spleen, kidney, thyroid, small intestine and mesentery were collected, and the radioactivity was measured by gamma scintillation counting. Following intravenous administration, 56.7% of administered microspheres were accumulated in immunization-related tissues, and 40.1% of microspheres were located in the liver and spleen. However, there was limited uptake efficiency (8.33%) following oral administration, and 49.5% of the absorbed microspheres were located in the intestinal mucosa. Compared with in-vitro release, the in-vivo release profiles of 125I-OMP from PELA microspheres, determined from the decreasing radioactivity in the above tissues, were much faster and the burst effect was higher. Antigen-loaded PELA microspheres were efficiently entrapped within immunization-related tissues after intravenous administration, but orally administered PELA microspheres showed limited uptake efficiency. Further investigation is needed to improve intestinal absorption.