Tetanus toxoid-loaded transfersomes for topical immunization

Topical immunization is a novel immunization strategy by which antigens and adjuvants are applied topically to intact skin to induce potent antibody and cell-mediated responses. Among various approaches for topical immunization, the vesicular approach is gaining wide attention. Proteineous antigen alone or in combination with conventional bioactive carriers could not penetrate through the intact skin. Hence, specially designed, deformable lipid vesicles called transfersomes were used in this study for the non-invasive delivery of tetanus toxoid (TT). Transfersomes were prepared and characterized for shape, size, entrapment efficiency and deformability index. Fluorescence microscopy was used to investigate the mechanism of vesicle penetration through the skin. The immune stimulating activity of these vesicles was studied by measuring the serum anti-tetanus toxoid IgG titre following topical immunization. The immune response was compared with the same dose of alum adsorbed tetanus toxoid (AATT) given intramuscularly, topically administered plain tetanus toxoid solution, and a physical mixture of tetanus toxoid and transfersomes again given topically. The results indicated that the optimal transfersomal formulation had a soya phosphatidylcholine and sodium deoxycholate ratio of 85:15%, w/w. This formulation showed maximum entrapment efficiency (87.34 +/- 3.81%) and deformability index (121.5 +/- 4.21). An in-vivo study revealed that topically administered tetanus toxoid-loaded transfersomes, after secondary immunization, elicited an immune response (anti-TT-IgG) comparable with that produced by intramuscular AATT. Fluorescence microscopy revealed the penetration of transfersomes through the skin to deliver the antigen to the immunocompetent Langerhans cells.