Minoxidil nanoparticles as potential intradermal carrier for H5 DNA vaccine delivery

Abstract

Background: DNA formulations provide the basis for safe and cost-effective vaccine. Low efficiency is often observed in the delivery of DNA vaccines and to induce a strong and long-lasting immune response, effective DNA delivery technologies are required that can induce high and continued levels of antigen production and stimulation at appropriate target sites. Methods and materials: In order to develop a new strategy for intradermal delivery of DNA vaccine, a recombinant plasmid encoding hemagglutinin (HA) gene of avian influenza virus, was formulated using green synthesis of Minoxidil nanoparticles (Min/NP) to develop nanoencapsulated H5 DNA vaccine (Min/NP/H5). Min/NP was successfully synthesized and uniformly dispersed with sizes in the range of 22–50 nm with an average size of 32 nm and positive charge of 16 mV. Ex vivo intradermal delivery of Min/NP/H5 were analysed by using Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeability Assay (PAMPA) and qPCR. Results: The results showed 100% of nanoencapsulated H5 DNA vaccine passed the artificial membrane. BALB/c mice (10 weeks old-female and male) immunized once intradermally with 150 μl of Min/NP/H5 behind the ear showed no clinical manifestations. H5 plasmid DNA was successfully detected from the dermis of the vaccinated mice as early as 1 h post-vaccination. In addition, sera collected from mice immunized with Min/NP/H5 showed rapidly increasing antibody titres against H5 on day 14 after immunization. The highest average antibody titres were detected on day 35 post immunization at 89.6 ± 35.05. Conclusion: Hence, single intradermal administrations of Min/NP/H5 to mice was able to efficiently deliver DNA vaccine and induced high levels of the antibody.