POLYMER-GRAFTED STARCH MICROPARTICLES FOR ORAL AND NASAL IMMUNIZATION

Microparticle delivery systems for oral vaccine administration are rec eiving considerable attention. A novel silicone polymer-grafted starch microparticle system was developed that is efficacious both orally an d intranasally. Unlike most other microparticle systems, this novel sy stem does not appear to retard the release of antigen or to protect an tigen from degradation. The results indicate that a unique physiochemi cal relationship occurs between protein antigen and silicone in a star ch matrix that facilitates the mucosal immunogenicity of antigen. This leads to predominance of Th2 antibody response. Taken together, these findings indicate that this novel microparticle system may be advanta geous for the delivery of small quantities of antigen, especially intr anasally, and may be useful for the induction of oral tolerance.