ABSTRACT
Objectives: CtxB [Cholera toxin B subunit] contributes to a vaccine's efficacy by stimulating production of the anti-CtxB antibody. Various attempts have been made to increase production of this antibody. Chitosan is a mucoadhesive polysaccharide that has tremendous potential for oral vaccine delivery in terms of its exclusive features that include biocompatibility, biodegradability, high charge density and non-toxicity. We investigated the potential for chitosan nanofibers and nanocapsules as novel carrier systems for the oral delivery of CtxB
Methods: Antigen-containing chitosan nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning a chitosan/AcOH solution. Encapsulation of the antigen inside the chitosan nanofibers was confirmed through infrared spectroscopy analysis [FTIR]. Guinea pigs were immunized with free antigen and CtxB antigen or antigen alone by direct administration of antigencontaining chitosan nanofibers into the buccal cavity. Serum immunoglobulin G [IgG] and intestinal immunoglobulin A [IgA] antibody responses were determined
Results: The results indicated that antigen in the chitosan nanofibers or nanocapsules elicited very high IgA and IgG responses. No detectable IgA and IgG responses were obtained after oral immunization with CtxB. The results of the antibody titer were analyzed using the ANOVA and LSD tests
Conclusion: CtxB inside the nanofiber increased antibody production when administered orally. This system might be used for delivery of other antigens