ANTIBODY ENCAPSULATION WITHIN POLYMERIC NANOPARTICLES

Antibodies represent a large class of drugs that have a number of different therapeutic uses. However, side effects can persist due to off target toxicity that may result when the antibody affects a tissue other than where it is intended to act. The use of targeted nanoparticles is one potential way to deliver an antibody to a specific organ where the antibody can be released in a controlled manner and limit side effects. Purpose (a): The purpose of this study is to characterize a human monoclonal antibody encapsulated within a poly(lactic-co-glycolytic) acid (PLGA) nanoparticle. We hypothesized that encapsulation of an antibody within PLGA nanoparticles is feasible and will release in a favorable manner. Methods (b): AnnexinA2 (AnxA2) IgG antibody was encapsulated within PLGA nanoparticles. Encapsulation efficiency and release kinetics were determined using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and coomassie brilliant blue staining. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) from Malvern Zetasizer was used to determine hydrodynamic size and zetapotential. Western blot was accomplished with cell lysates from known AnxA2 expressing cell lines to determine functionality of antibody once released from PLGA nanoparticles. Results (c): Our results show acceptable encapsulation efficiency of AnxA2 within the PLGA nanoparticle. Nanoparticles were formed in a favorable monodisperse manner. Release experiments demonstrate that AnxA2 is released in a controlled manner over a period of 15 days. In addition after release the antibody maintained functionality as evidenced through Western Blot analysis. Conclusions (d): We conclude that encapsulation of IgG monoclonal antibodies is feasible, exhibits sustained release kinetics, and maintains functionality upon release. Further, this encapsulation technique may be used as a method to load antibodies in targeted nanoparticles for release in a tissue specific manner.