Microparticle Vaccines Made from Biodegradable and Biocompatible Poly (Lactide - Co - Glycolide) Polymers

Vaccination is undoubtedly the most effective strategy for disease prevention and eradication. However, significant information obtained recently indicates that future investigations on vaccine development have to include effective adjuvants for enhancing protective immunity against pathogenic infections in animals and humans. Microparticle s made from poly (lactide - co - glycolide) (PLG) polymers can be designed as safe and potent adjuvants or delivery systems to encapsulate vaccine antigens for the developmen t of controlled - release Microparticle vaccines. Adjuvant effects of the PLG microencapsulation can protect antigens from unfavorable degradation, allow the sustained and extended release of antigens over a long period, and enhance antigen uptake by antigen - presenting cells (APCs). Although only a countable number of formulations based on PLG - encapsulated technique are available in market, much work still remains to confirm and optimize the stabilization of protein release for presenting to the immune system.