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Research Article

Effects of extrusion, lipid concentration and purity on physico-chemical and biological properties of cationic liposomes for gene vaccine applications

, , , &
Pages 759-769 | Received 22 Dec 2011, Accepted 09 Apr 2012, Published online: 21 May 2012
 

Abstract

We developed cationic liposomes containing DNA through a conventional process involving steps of (i) preformation of liposomes, (ii) extrusion, (iii) drying and rehydration and (iv) DNA complexation. Owing to its high prophylactic potentiality against tuberculosis, which had already been demonstrated in preclinical assays, we introduced modifications into the conventional process towards getting a simpler and more economical process for further scale-up. Elimination of the extrusion step, increasing the lipid concentration (from 16 to 64 mM) of the preformed liposomes and using good manufacturing practice bulk lipids (96–98% purity) instead of analytical grade purity lipids (99.9–100%) were the modifications studied. The differences in the physico-chemical properties, such as average diameter, zeta potential, melting point and morphology of the liposomes prepared through the modified process, were not as significant for the biological properties, such as DNA loading on the cationic liposomes, and effective immune response in mice after immunisation as the control liposomes prepared through the conventional process. Beneficially, the modified process increased productivity by 22% and reduced the cost of raw material by 75%.

Nomenclature

DLS:=

Dynamic light scattering technique

DOPE:=

1,2-Dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanlamine

DOTAP:=

1,2-Dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane

DRV:=

Dehydrated–rehydrated vesicles

DSC:=

Differential scanning calorimetry

EPC:=

L-α-Phosphatidylcholine

GMP:=

Good manufacturing practice

I:=

Intensity-weighted distribution

N:=

Number-weighted distribution

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