Vitamin E Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Vitamin E, including details on benefits, dosage, supplements, antioxidants.

Effect of vitamin E TPGS on immune response to nasally delivered diphtheria toxoid loaded poly(caprolactone) microparticles.

Somavarapu S, Pandit S, Gradassi G, Bandera M, Ravichandran E, Alpar OH

Vaccine Delivery Group, Centre for Drug Delivery Research, University of London, School of Pharmacy, University of London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK.

The nasal mucosa has many advantages as a potential site for drug and vaccine delivery. The present study has sought to exploit this route of delivery using microparticles composed of D-alpha-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) as a matrix material blended with poly(caprolactone) for nasal immunisation with diphtheria toxoid. Particles were prepared by a double emulsion method, followed by spray drying and the effect of TPGS on size, zeta potential, loading and release of antigen was assessed. Particles composed of TPGS-PCL blends were spherical, smooth and monodisperse, displaying increasing yields after spray drying with increasing concentrations of TPGS. The immune response to diphtheria toxoid loaded PCL-TPGS microspheres after nasal administration was shown to be higher than that achieved using PCL microspheres alone. We conclude that TPGS shows significant potential as a novel adjuvant either alone or in combination with an appropriate delivery system.

Published 4 July 2005 in Int J Pharm, 298(2): 344-7.
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