Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Lectin-bearing Polymerized Liposomes as Potential Oral Vaccine Carriers

  • Published:
Pharmaceutical Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose. The potential of using lectin-modified polymerized liposomes as Peyer's patch targeted oral delivery vehicles was examined.

Methods. Two types of lectins, Ulex Europaeus Agglutinin I (UEA I) and Wheat Germ Agglutinin (WGA), were modified with a hydrophobic anchor N-glutaryl-phosphotidylethanolamine (NGPE). The modified lectins were incorporated into liposome bilayers and the liposomes were subsequently stabilized through polymerization. The presence of the lectins on the liposome surfaces was first confirmed with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Surface-immobilized lectins were then shown to retain their carbohydrate binding activities as well as specificities based on an in vitro aggregation assay. Finally, delivery efficiencies of lectin-bearing liposomes were determined in mice.

Results. About 10.5% UEA I liposomes and 5.8% WGA liposomes were taken up from the gastrointestinal tract. These numbers are significantly higher than the 3.2% observed in the case of lectin-free liposomes. At the same time, UEA I liposomes exhibited the most effective Peyer's patch targeting among the three, which directly correlated with the highest delivery efficiency observed.

Conclusions. This establishes that lectin modification of liposomes can promote binding to Peyer's patches, which will give improved efficiency for Peyer's patch targeted delivery. All these point to the potential for these lectin-modified liposomes as novel vehicles for oral vaccination.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Childers, N. K. and Michalek, S. M. Liposomes. Novel delivery systems for oral vaccines. O'Hagan, D. T. ed. CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Florida, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Alving, C. R. Liposomes as carriers for vaccines. Liposomes: from biophysics to therapeutics. Ostro, M. J. ed. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Okada, J., Cohen, S. and Langer, R. In vitro evaluation of polymerized liposomes as an oral drug delivery system. Pharmaceutical Research. 12:576–582, (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Deshmukh, D. S., Bear, W. D. and Brockerhoff, H. Can intact liposomes be absorbed in the gut? Life Science. 28:239–242, (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Chen, H., Torchilin, V. and Langer, R. Polymerized liposomes as potential oral vaccine carriers: stability and bioavailability. Journal of Controlled Release. in print (1996).

  6. O'Hagan, D. T. Oral immunization and the common mucosal immune system. Novel delivery systems for oral vaccines. O'Hagan, D. T. ed. CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Florida, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Mestecky, J. The Common mucosal immune system and current strategies for induction of immune responses in external secretions. Journal of Clinical Immunology. 7(4):265–276, (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  8. O'Hagan, D. T. Microparticles as oral vaccines. Novel delivery systems for oral vaccines. O'Hagan, D. T. ed. CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Florida, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Neutra, M. R., Phillips, T. L., Mayer, E. L. and Fishkind, D. J. Transport of membrane-bound macromolecules by M cells in follicle-associated epithelium of rabbit Peyer's patch. Cell Tissue Res. 247:537–546, (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Clark, M. A., Jepson, M. A., Simmons, N. L., Booth, T. A. and Hirst, B. H. Differential expression of lectin-binding sites defines mouse intestinal M-cells. The Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry. 41(11):1679–1687, (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Clark, M. A., Jepson, M. A., Simmons, N. L. and Hirst, B. H. Differential surface characteristics of M cells from mouse intestinal Peyer's and caecal patches. Histochemical Journal. 26:271–280, (1994).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Weissig, V., Lasch, J., Klibanov, A. L. and Torchilin, V. P. A new hydrophobic anchor for the attachment of proteins to liposome membranes. FEBS Letters. 202(1):86–90, (1986).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Waynforth, H. B. and Flecknell, P. A. Experimental and surgical technique in the rat. Academic Press, London, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Fields, R. The measurement of amino groups in proteins and peptides. Biochemistry Journal. 124:581–590, (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Okada, J., Cohen, S. and Langer, R. Intestinal uptake of polymerized liposomes in rats. J. Pharmaceutical Sci. Submitted

  16. Ratner, B. D. Characterization of biomaterial surfaces. Cardio. Path. 2(3):87S–100S, (1993).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139

    Hongming Chen & Robert Langer

  2. Center for Imaging and Pharmaceutical Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts

    Vladimir Torchilin

Authors
  1. Hongming Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Vladimir Torchilin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Robert Langer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chen, H., Torchilin, V. & Langer, R. Lectin-bearing Polymerized Liposomes as Potential Oral Vaccine Carriers. Pharm Res 13, 1378–1383 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016030202104

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016030202104

Search

Navigation