Preparation and efficacy of Newcastle disease virus DNA vaccine encapsulated in PLGA nanoparticles

PLoS One. 2013 Dec 26;8(12):e82648. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082648. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Background: Although the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) inactivated vaccines and attenuated live vaccines have been used to prevent and control Newcastle disease (ND) for years, there are some disadvantages. Recently, newly developed DNA vaccines have the potential to overcome these disadvantages. The low delivery efficiency, however, hindered the application of DNA vaccines for ND in practice.

Methodology/principal findings: The eukaryotic expression plasmid pVAX1-F (o) DNA that expressed the F gene of NDV encapsulated in PLGA nanoparticles (pFNDV-PLGA-NPs) were prepared by a double emulsion-solvent evaporation method and optimal preparation conditions of the pFNDV-PLGA-NPs were determined. Under the optimal conditions, the pFNDV-PLGA-NPs were produced in good morphology and had high stability with a mean diameter of 433.5 ± 7.5 nm, with encapsulation efficiency of 91.8 ± 0.3% and a Zeta potential of +2.7 mV. Release assay in vitro showed that the fusion gene plasmid DNA could be sustainably released from the pFNDV-PLGA-NPs up to 93.14% of the total amount. Cell transfection test indicated that the vaccine expressed and maintained its bioactivity. Immunization results showed that better immune responses of SPF chickens immunized with the pFNDV-PLGA-NPs were induced compared to the chickens immunized with the DNA vaccine alone. In addition, the safety of mucosal immunity delivery system of the pFNDV-PLGA-NPs was also tested in an in vitro cytotoxicity assay.

Conclusions/significance: The pFNDV-PLGA-NPs could induce stronger cellular, humoral, and mucosal immune responses and reached the sustained release effect. These results laid a foundation for further development of vaccines and drugs in PLGA nanoparticles.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chickens / immunology
  • Chickens / virology
  • Drug Carriers
  • Lactic Acid
  • Nanoparticles
  • Newcastle Disease
  • Newcastle disease virus / genetics
  • Newcastle disease virus / immunology*
  • Polyglycolic Acid
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
  • Poultry Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Vaccines, DNA / administration & dosage*
  • Vaccines, DNA / adverse effects
  • Vaccines, DNA / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • Vaccines, DNA
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
  • Polyglycolic Acid
  • Lactic Acid

Grants and funding

This work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31072119), Program for International Science and Technology Cooperation Projects of China (2012DFA30250), Key Project of Chinese Ministry of Education (212048), Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-12-0707), Chang Jiang Scholar Candidates Program for Provincial Universities in Heilongjiang, Scientific and Technological Key Project of Heilongjiang Province (GC13B403), Early Research and Development Cultivation Project of Scientific and Technological Achievements Industrialization for Provincial Universities in Heilongjiang (1253CGZH10), Program for New Century Excellent Talents in Heilongjiang Provincial University (1251-NCET-005), Innovation Foundation of Harbin (2013RFQXJ030 and 2011RFQXN039) and Education Committee Science and Technology Research General Projects of Heilongjiang Province (12521408). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.