Preparation and in vitro characterization of chitosan nanoparticles containing Mesobuthus eupeus scorpion venom as an antigen delivery system

Mohammadpour Dounighi N (1), Eskandari R (2), Avadi MR (3), Zolfagharian H (1), Mir Mohammad Sadeghi A (3), Rezayat M (2)

(1) Department of Human Vaccine and Serum, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran; (2) Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; (3) Department of Research and Development, Hakim Pharmaceutical Company, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: Hydrophilic nanoparticles have been widely investigated in recent years as delivery systems for therapeutic macromolecules such as antigens. In the present study Mesobuthus eupeus venom-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were prepared via ionic gelation of tripolyphosphate (TPP) and chitosan. The optimum encapsulation efficiency (91.1%) and loading capacity (76.3%) were obtained by a chitosan concentration of 2 mg/mL, chitosan-to-TPP mass ratio of 2 and M. eupeus venom concentration of 500 μg/mL. The average nanoparticle size at optimum conditions was determined by Zetasizer (Malvern Instruments, UK). The nanoparticle size was about 370 nm (polydispersity index: 0.429) while the zeta potential was positive. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) imaging showed a spherical, smooth and almost homogenous structure for nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed tripolyphosphoric groups of TPP linked with ammonium groups of chitosan in the nanoparticles. The in vitro release of nanoparticles showed an initial burst release of approximately 60% in the first ten hours, followed by a slow and much reduced additional release for about 60 hours. It is suggested that the chitosan nanoparticles fabricated in our study may provide a suitable alternative to  traditional adjuvant systems.

Key words: nanoparticle, chitosan, tripolyphosphate, venom, antigen delivery system, Mesobuthus eupeus.

COPYRIGHT

© CEVAP 2012

SUBMISSION STATUS

Received: June 3, 2011.

Accepted: August 24, 2011.

Abstract published online: August 25, 2011.

Full paper published online: February 28, 2012.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

FINANCIAL SOURCE

The Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute (Karaj, Iran) provided the financial grants.

CORRESPONDENCE TO

Naser Mohammadpour Dounighi, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Postal Code 31987, Karaj, Iran. Phone: +98 261 4502865. Fax: +98 261 4552194. Email: Nasser_mohammadpour@yahoo.com.