Pharmaceutics (Dec 2022)

Synthesis and Characterization of Innovative Microgels Based on Polyacrylic Acid and Microalgae Cell Wall and Their Potential as Antigen Delivery Vehicles

  • Ileana García-Silva,
  • Miguel Olvera-Sosa,
  • Benita Ortega-Berlanga,
  • Víctor Ruíz-Rodríguez,
  • Gabriela Palestino,
  • Sergio Rosales-Mendoza

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15010133
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 1
p. 133

Abstract

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In this study, hybrid polyacrylic acid and Schizochytrium sp. microalgae (PAA/Schizo) microgels were synthesized by inverse emulsion assisted by ultrasound using the cell wall fraction as crosslinker. Physicochemical characterization of PAA/Schizo microgels revealed polymeric spherical particles (288 ± 39 nm) and were deemed stable and negatively charged. The produced microgels are not inherently toxic as cell viability was sustained above 80% when mice splenocytes were exposed to concentrations ranging 10–900 µg/mL. PAA/Schizo microgels were evaluated as antigen delivery nanovehicle by adsorbing bovine serum albumin (BSA); with a loading efficiency of 72% and loading capacity of 362 µg/mg. Overall, intranasally-immunized BALB/c mice showed null IgG or IgA responses against PAA/Schizo microgel-BSA, whereas soluble BSA induced significant humoral responses in systemic and mucosal compartments. Splenocytes proliferation assay upon BSA stimulus revealed positive CD4+ T cells-proliferation response in PAA/Schizo microgels-BSA group. Thus, PAA/Schizo microgels constitute functional antigen delivery vehicles of simple and ecofriendly synthesis. Moreover, the use of cell wall fraction as cross-linker agent provides an alternative use for the generation of high-value products using residual algae biomass from the oil industry. Our data suggests that the PAA/Schizo microgels are potential antigen delivery vehicles for immunotherapy development.

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