Premium
Degradability and antigen‐release characteristics of polyester microspheres prepared from polymer blends
Author(s) -
Sah Hongkee,
Chien Yie W.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1995.070580123
Subject(s) - antigenicity , polyester , microsphere , bovine serum albumin , lactic acid , controlled release , polymer , hydrolysis , polymer chemistry , polymer degradation , biodegradable polymer , nuclear chemistry , chemistry , materials science , antigen , chemical engineering , chromatography , biochemistry , organic chemistry , nanotechnology , immunology , genetics , bacteria , engineering , biology
Biodegradable microspheres were prepared to function as a depot system for the controlled release of a model protein antigen bovine serum albumin (BSA). As an approach to achieve its controlled release, microspheres were fabricated blending a high‐molecular‐weight poly‐ d,l ‐lactide‐ co ‐glycolide ( M w = 61,000) with a low‐molecular‐weight poly‐ d,l ‐lactic acid ( M w = 2000, PLA2000). The effects of PLA2000 on microsphere degradability and release characteristics of BSA from microspheres were investigated. On the basis of the pH change in microsphere suspensions and water uptake of microspheres, the kinetics of microsphere degradation was derived to describe the rate of formation of hydrogen ions due to hydrolysis of ester linkages of polymers. It substantiated that PLA2000‐containing microspheres were subject to controlled degradation that was necessary to achieve continuous release profiles of the antigen. Immunization of rabbits by subcutaneous injection of BSA‐containing microspheres enhanced the antigenicity of BSA, and significantly increased the duration of humoral immune responses. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.