Abstract
PURPOSE: Chitosan is a natural polymer that has excellent properties include biocompatibility, biodegradability, no cytotoxicity, high charge density, low cost, mucoadhesive, permeation enhancing (ability to cross tight junction), and immunomodulating ability that makes the spectrum of its applicability much broader. This study was conducted to investigate the stabilizing, preservative and immunogenicity properties of N-trimethyl chitosan nanospheres (N-TMCNS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The tetanus toxoid (TT) was encapsulated into N-TMCNS and then characterized by scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, and dynamic light scattering. For stabilizer assay of N-TMCNS after storage of TT-N-TMCNS at different temperatures for 3 weeks, they were used for immunization of mice and different temperatures groups' anti-TT-N-TMCNS production compared with other groups. Finally, the immunized mice were challenged with tetanus toxin. The preservation activity of TT-N-TMCNS against Escherichia coli was compared with thimerosal formulated TT. RESULTS: Our results revealed that heat-treated TT-N-TMCNS could induce higher titer of neutralizing immunoglobulin G in compared to TT vaccine and was able to protect the mice better than TT vaccine in challenge test. Furthermore, N-TMCNS as a preservative inhibited the growth of E. coli more effective than thimerosal. CONCLUSION: Overall, the obtained results indicated that the N-TMCNS is one of the best stabilizer and preservative agent that can be used in the formulation of TT vaccine.