Preparation and stability of agarose microcapsules containing BCG.

An emulsification/internal gelation method of preparing small-sized agarose microcapsules containing Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is reported. Agarose microcapsules have been prepared by the emulsification of the hydrogel within a vegetable oil followed by its gelation due to the cooling of the system. Four different oils (sesame, sweet almonds, camomile and jojoba) were assayed. The rheological analysis of the oils showed a Newtonian behaviour, with viscosity values of 37.7, 51.2, 59.3 and 67.1 mPa s for jojoba, camomile, sesame and sweet almonds oil, respectively. The particle size of the microcapsules obtained ranged from 23.1 microm for the microcapsules prepared with sweet almonds oil to 42.6 microm for those prepared with jojoba. The microcapsule particle size was found to be dependent on the viscosity of the oil used in the emulsification step. The encapsulated BCG was identified by the Difco TB stain set K, followed by observation under optical microscopy. Once prepared, microcapsules were freeze-dried using 5% trehalose as cryoprotectant and the stability of the microcapsules was assayed during 12 months storage at room temperature, observing that agarose microcapsules were stable after 12 months storage, since there was no evidence of alteration in the freeze-dried appearance, resuspension rate, observation under microscope, or particle size.