Oral immunization of rats with proteinoid microspheres encapsulating influenza virus antigens

Influenza virus antigen microspheres were prepared by a pH-dependent process using a protein-like polymer (proteinoid) made by thermal condensation of amino acids. The efficacy of these preparations to induce specific IgG responses when used as oral vaccines in rats was evaluated. A single enteric dose of M1 entrapped in proteinoid microspheres was able to induce a significant IgG response to M1 as early as 2 weeks postdosing, while rats dosed orally with the same M1 total dose (no microspheres) showed no detectable antibody response. An unencapsulated hemagglutinin and neuraminidase (HA-NA) preparation induced a moderate anti HA-NA IgG response. A single enteric dose of HA-NA spheres induced a response in 33% of the rats; this response was up to eight times higher than that observed in the rats dosed with unencapsulated antigen.