Novel Intranasal Vaccine Delivery System by Chitosan Nanofibrous Membrane Containing N-Terminal Region of Ipad Antigen as a Nasal Shigellosis Vaccine, Studies in Guinea Pigs

Nasal Shigellosis vaccine is quite attractive for inducing a protective immune response. The reason is the invading effect of Shigella spp. to body through mucosal surfaces. Chitosan is a mucoadhesive polysaccharide with great potential for nasal vaccine delivery regarding to the exclusive features including biocompatibility, biodegradability, high charge density and non-toxicity. In this study, the potential of chitosan nano-fibrous membrane as a novel carrier system for the nasal delivery of shigella subunit vaccine was investigated. The antigen-containing chitosan nanofibrous membrane was prepared by electrospinning of chitosan/AcOH solution. Guinea pigs were vaccinated by direct administration of antigen-containing chitosan nanofibers into the nasal cavity. The guinea pigs immunized intranasal administered N-IpaD/NFs showed higher serum and mucosal antibody responses comparing to those of other groups. All immunized animals were subsequently protected against a challenge with wild-type S. flexneri 2a in a keratoconjunctivitis Sereny test that N-IpaD/NFs group was protective.