Administration of Ovalbumin Encapsulated in Alginate Microspheres to Mice

Sodium alginate microparticles were tested as a delivery system for oral vaccines. Ovalbumin was incorporated into alginate microparticles. The release of ovalbumin from the microparticles was determined. Electron microscopy was performed to evaluate surface characteristics of the microparticles. Plain microspheres or ovalbumin incorporated within alginate microspheres were administered orally to groups of mice; another 2 groups were given either ovalbumin in microspheres or in Freund's adjuvant by subcutaneous injection. Antibodies specific to ovalbumin were measured in serum and antibody-secreting cells specific for ovalbumin were enumerated in spleen cells. Microparticles released ovalbumin within 5 days in vitro. Alginate microparticles were uniform in density and spherical in shape by electron microscopy. Mice had increased numbers of antibody secreting cells and serum antibody titers specific for ovalbumin regardless of the method of inoculation. These studies suggest that alginate microparticles could be used for the delivery of antigens. Further studies of this delivery system are warranted.