Chitosan and trimethyl chitosan chloride (TMC) as adjuvants for inducing immune responses to ovalbumin in mice following nasal administration

J Control Release. 2007 Aug 28;121(3):168-75. doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2007.05.025. Epub 2007 Jun 2.

Abstract

Chitosan of different molecular weights (Chi-P, MW=2.7x10(5) g/mol and Chi-A, MW=5.0x10(5) g/mol) and trimethyl chitosan chloride (TMC) of various degree of quaternization (DQ) including TMC-20, TMC-40 and TMC-60 were evaluated as adjuvants for inducing of immune responses to ovalbumin (OVA). OVA in solution and in alum were used as controls. Groups of BALB/c mice were immunized on days 0, 7 and 14. The IgG and IgA titers were examined on days 0, 13 and 21. It was found that for both days 13 and 21, Chi-A could elicit higher IgG responses to OVA than Chi-P. On day 13, OVA in TMC-40 induced IgG responses significantly higher than that in solution, Chi-P and TMC-60. Moreover, OVA in TMC-40 could induce IgG responses higher than OVA in alum. Although a significant difference was not observed at day 21, OVA in TMC-40 was shown to induce higher IgG responses than that in TMC-20, TMC-60 and solution. The IgA responses were the most pronounced on day 21. Again, Chi-A could elicite higher IgA responses than Chi-P and TMC-40 induced the highest IgA responses. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that both MW of chitosan and DQ of TMC influence the level of immune induction. TMC-40 shows to be the most potent adjuvant for intranasal administration.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / administration & dosage*
  • Administration, Intranasal
  • Animals
  • Chitosan / administration & dosage*
  • Chitosan / immunology
  • Female
  • Immunoglobulin A / biosynthesis*
  • Immunoglobulin G / biosynthesis*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Ovalbumin / immunology*

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • N-trimethyl chitosan chloride
  • Ovalbumin
  • Chitosan