Abstract
This chapter describes the methodology for fabricating and utilizing the polymeric systems for the sustained release of macromolecules. Polymeric delivery systems could provide a simple, safe, and effective single-step immunization. Polyvinyl alcohol or ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer may cause a mild inflammatory response. This can be eliminated for ethylene-vinyl acetate, or reduced for polyvinyl alcohol, by washing with solvents to extract impurities. It is found that to retard the diffusion of the macromolecules from the polymer matrix, the pellets were sometimes coated with pure polymer solution. Coating was accomplished by one of the two procedures. To test the effectiveness of the polymers in inducing an immune response, a method was used to prepare ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer pellets. The polymer implants were made by mixing 5 mg of dry protein powder with 100 μl of polymer solution. Prolonged stimulation with antigen encapsulated in a polymer increased antibody production with time and did not induce tolerance. The antibodies formed were the IgG types. Mice implanted with polymer pellets showed no early decline in antibody formation, as was observed, with the complete Freund's adjuvant-sponsored primary response in controls.
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