Uptake of liposomes by Peyer´s patches following per os administration in mice

O objetivo deste estudo foi marcar uma proteína utilizada como modelo, a soro albumina bovina (SAB), com 99mTecnécio (99mTc), encapsular a rroteína marcada (99mTc-SAB) em lipossomas e empregar este marcador para quantificar a 99m c-SAB capturada pelas placas de Peyer de camundongos Balb/c após administração oral. A 99mTc-SAB (taxa de marcação=94,9±2,4%; n=25) foi encapsulada em lipossomas multilamelar (MLV), unilamelar de pequeno tamanho (SUV) ou unilamelar de grande tamanho (LUV) compostos de fosfatidilcolina de soja (PC); PC e colesterol (CH) (razão molar 8/2); PC, CH e fosfatidilglicerol (PG) (razão molar 7/2/1) ou distearoilfosfatidilcolina (DSPC), CH e PG (razão molar 7/2/1). Utilizando eletroforese em gel de agarose e imunoeletroforese contra uma imunoglobulina anti-SAB específica, foi verificado que a SAB não sofreu degradação após ter sido marcada com 99mTc e encapsulada em lipossomas. 99mTc-SAB encapsulada em SUV compostos por PC/CH/PG ou DSPC/CH/ PG foi preferencialmente capturada pelas placas de Peyer. A captura de 99mTc-SAB encapsulada em LUV foi reduzida quando comparada com aquela observada para SUV com a mesma composição em lipídios. 99mTc-SAB encapsulada em MLV compostos por PC/CH/PG ou DSPC/CH/PG e em SUV compostos de PC ou PC/CH não foi capturada pelas placas de Peyer. Os resultados indicam que SUV pode ser um carreador para antígenos instáveis no trato gastrintestinal, tornando-os potencialmente capazes de induzir a resposta imunológica das mucosas.The aim of this study was to employ a model protein, the bovine serum albumin (SAB), radiolabelled with 99mTechnetium (99mTc) (99mTc-SAB) and encapsulated into liposomes, in order to determine the amount de 99mTc-SAB taken up by Peyer´s patches following per os administration in mice Balb/c. The 99mTc-SAB, labelling yield of 94.9±2.4 % (n=25), was encapsulated within multilamellar large vesicles (MLV), small unilamellar vesicles (SUV) or large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) composed of soybean phosphatidylcholine (PC); PC and cholesterol (CH) (molar ratio 8/2); PC, CH and phosphatidylglicerol (PG) (molar ratio 7/2/1) or distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC), CH and PG (molar ratio 7/2/1). A gel electrophoresis and a gel immunoelectrophoresis, using a specific anti-SAB serum immunoglobulin, were employed to evaluate the integrity of SAB after labelling with 99mTc and after encapsulation into liposomes. Labelling with 99mTc and liposome encapsulation did not result in degradation of SAB. SUVencapsulated-99mTc-SAB was preferentially taken up by Peyer´s patches. Uptake of LUV-encapsulated-99mTc-SAB by Peyer´s patches was reduced when compared with that observed for the SUV-encapsulated-99mTc-SAB. 99mTc-SAB encapsulated into SUV composed of PC or PC/CH was not uptaked by Peyer´s patches. The lipid composition (PC or DSPC/CH/PG) of SUV did not modify 99mTc-SAB uptake by Peyer´s patches. In conclusion, SUV might be an effective carrier for unstable antigens administered per os to induce mucosal immune response

PLA-PEG nanocapsules radiolabeled with 99mTechnetium-HMPAO : release properties and physicochemical characterization by atomic force microscopy and photon correlation spectroscopy.

The present work describes the preparation, characterization and labelling of conventional and surface-modified nanocapsules (NC) with 99mTc-HMPAO. The size, size distribution and homogeneity were determined by photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) and zeta potential by laser doppler anemometry. The morphology and the structural organization were evaluated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The stability and release profile of the NC were determined in vitro in plasma. The results showed that the use of methylene blue induces significant increase in the encapsulation efficiency of 99mTc-HMPAO, from 24.4 to 49.8% in PLANC and 22.37 to 52.93% in the case of PLA-PEGNC(P < 0.05) by improving the complex stabilization. The average diameter of NC calculated by PCS varied from 216 to 323 nm, while the average diameter determined by AFM varied from 238 to 426 nm. The AFM analysis of diameter/height ratios suggested a greater homogeneity of the surface-modified PLAPEG nanocapsules compared to PLA NC concerning their flattening properties. The in vitro release of the 99mTc-HMPAO in plasma medium was faster for the conventional PLA NC than for the surface-modified NC. For the latter, 60% of the radioactivity remained associated with NC, even after 12h of incubation. The results suggest that the surface-modified 99mTc-HMPAO-PLA PEG NCwas more stable against label leakage in the presence of proteins and could present better performance as radiotracer in vivo

Ethanol affects the absorption and tissue distribution of orally administered antigens in mice

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of ethanol on the adsorption and tissue distribution of orally administered antigens in mice. Results showed that ethanol reduced the level of anti-ovalbumin IgA antibodies in intestinal fluid for the mice treated orally with a palmitoyl-ovalbumin conjugate. Ethanol was administered intragastrically to mice at 5 g/kg body weight for 14 days (chronic treatment), or 10 g/kg body weight every 7th day up to 14 days (acute treatment). Thereafter, 99m technetium-labeled antigens were administered and lymphoid tissues were collected. Ethanol interfered with the transport of ovalbumin to the liver. Moreover, the transport of palmitoyl-ovalbumin to mesenteric lymph nodes was reduced 6 h after the antigen administration. In conclusion, there was a relationship between the suppression of ethanol-mediated specific local IgA responses and the decreased transport of palmitoyl-ovalbumin to mesenteric lymph nodes

Biodistribution of free 99mTc-ovalbumin and 99mTc-ovalbumin encapsulated in liposomes

The oral administration of proteic antigens, like ovalbumin, may result in the induction of oral tolerance or immunization. The aim of this work was to label a protein antigen with 99mTechnetium, encapsulate it in liposomes and investigate its absorption and tissue distribution after oral administration in mice. Ovalbumin was labeled with 99mTechnetium and encapsulated in small unilamellar vesicles. 99mTc-OVA encapsulated or not in liposomes was administrated to mice that were sacrificed after different times. The radioactivity was measured in various organs of the animals. Differences concerning the biodistribution of 99mTc-OVA were noticed. The technique may represent alternatives for the induction of immunization or oral tolerance