Microcapsules formulated in the enteric coating copolymer Eudragit L100 as delivery systems for oral vaccination against infections by gastrointestinal nematode parasites.

Microcapsules using the copolymer of methacrylic acid (Eudragit L100) were formulated for oral delivery of vaccines against the enteral/parenteral nematode parasite Trichinella spiralis. Antigenic preparations from first stage larvae (L1) of T. spiralis were microencapsulated in Eudragit L100. The microcapsules prepared by the spray drying method were resistant to acid pH, although the antigen was rapidly released under neutral and basic environmental conditions. The native protein conformation and biological activity was preserved in the microcapsules, as assessed by SDS-PAGE and ELISA. When administered to NIH mice, the antigen loaded microcapsules protected against infection by T. spiralis at both the intestinal and muscular levels, the worm burden diminishing by 45.58 and 53.33%, respectively. Furthermore, following administration of the microparticles an increase of the serum IgG1 response, a marker for the Th2 type response, was evident. These results indicate that microcapsules formulated with anionic biocompatible polymers such as Eudragit may be useful for oral vaccination against nematode infections.