Oil-in-water liposomal emulsions: characterization and potential use in vaccine delivery

J Pharm Sci. 1999 Dec;88(12):1332-9. doi: 10.1021/js990011u.

Abstract

Emulsification of mineral oil by phospholipids donated by liposomes composed of dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine, dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol, cholesterol, and lipid A by extrusion resulted in the formation of oil-in-water liposomal emulsions containing a substantial number of intact liposomes. Increasing the proportion of liposomes from 25 mM to 150 mM phospholipid and increasing the oil content from 2.5% (v/v) to 42.5% (v/v) changed the flow characteristics of the emulsions from fluid liquid-like to viscous. Likewise, the degree of stability of the emulsions was liposomal phospholipid concentration-dependent, ranging from partial emulsification in the range 25-100 mM to complete stabilization in the range 125-150 mM. Despite some loss of liposome integrity, as evidenced by the release of liposomal trapped glucose, emulsification of liposomes containing encapsulated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) exhibited antigen-specific immunostimulation in mice. These results suggest that liposomes containing encapsulated antigen can serve as constituents for the formulation of oil-in-water vaccines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / administration & dosage
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antigens / immunology
  • Antigens / pharmacology
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Drug Carriers
  • Drug Stability
  • Emulsions
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Fluorescence
  • Glucose / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Liposomes
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Oils
  • Phospholipids
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / administration & dosage
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / immunology
  • Stimulation, Chemical
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Viscosity
  • Water

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antigens
  • Drug Carriers
  • Emulsions
  • Liposomes
  • Oils
  • Phospholipids
  • Vaccines
  • Water
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen
  • Glucose