Lectin-bearing polymerized liposomes as potential oral vaccine carriers

Abstract

Purpose: The potential of using lectin-modified polymerized liposomes as Peyer's patch targeted oral delivery vehicles was examined.

Methods: Two types of lectins, Ulex Europaeus Agglutinin I (UEA I) and Wheat Germ Agglutinin (WGA), were modified with a hydrophobic anchor N-glutaryl-phosphotidylethanolamine (NGPE). The modified lectins were incorporated into liposome bilayers and the liposomes were subsequently stabilized through polymerization. The presence of the lectins on the liposome surfaces was first confirmed with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Surface-immobilized lectins were then shown to retain their carbohydrate binding activities as well as specificities based on an in vitro aggregation assay. Finally, delivery efficiencies of lectin-bearing liposomes were determined in mice.

Results: About 10.5% UEA I liposomes and 5.8% WGA liposomes were taken up from the gastrointestinal tract. These numbers are significantly higher than the 3.2% observed in the case of lectin-free liposomes. At the same time, UEA I liposomes exhibited the most effective Peyer's patch targeting among the three, which directly correlated with the highest delivery efficiency observed.

Conclusions: This establishes that lectin modification of liposomes can promote binding to Peyer's patches, which will give improved efficiency for Peyer's patch targeted delivery. All these point to the potential for these lectin-modified liposomes as novel vehicles for oral vaccination.