EP0333523A2

Method of potentiating an immune response and compositions therefor.

Abstract

A method, and compositions for use therein capable, of delivering a bioactive agent to an animal entailing the steps of encapsulating effective amounts of the agent in a biocompatible excipient to form microcapsules having a size less than approximately ten micrometers and administering effective amounts of the microcapsules to the animal. A pulsatile response is obtained, as well as mucosal and systemic immunity.

EP0333523A2, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 2

Term

Term ended

Projected expiry passed 20 March 2009, 17.5 years ago.

  1. Priority
  2. Filed
  3. Published
  4. Projected expiry
  5. Today

53 claims: 25 independent, 28 dependent

  1. 1
    A composition for delivering a bioactive agent to the mucosally associated lymphoreticular tissues of an animal, the composition comprising an effective amount of said agent encapsulated in a biocompatible excipient to form microcapsules having a size less than approximately 10 micrometers.
  2. 4
    The composition of any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein said microcapsules have a size ranging from between approximately 5 micrometers and approximately 10 micrometers so that said microcapsules can be retained in said mucosally asociated lymphoreticular tissues.
  3. 5
    The composition of any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein said microcapsules have a size less then approximately 5 micrometers so that said microcapsules can pass through said mucosally associated lymphoreticular tissues.
  4. 9
    A composition for providing systemic immunity in an animal, the composition comprising an effective amount of a bioactive agent encapsulated in a biocompatible excipient to form microcapsules having a size between approximately 1 micrometer and approximately 10 micrometers in diameter.
  5. 11
    A composition for potentiating the immune response of an animal, the composition comprising a mixture of effective amounts of first biocompatible microcapsules having a size less than approximately 10 micrometers and containing a first bioactive agent and second biocompatible microcapsules having a size greater than approximately 10 micrometers and containing a second bioactive agent, said first microcapsules providing a primary immunological response and said second microcapsules releasing said second agent pulsatily to potentiate a subsequent immunological response.
  6. 13
    A composition for increasing the bioavailability of a bioactive agent through oral administration and comprising biocompatible microcapsules containing effective amounts of said agent and having a size less than approximately 10 micrometers.
  7. 15
    A composition for potentiating the immune response of an animal, the composition comprising a mixture of a first, free bioactive agent to provide a primary response and microcapsules having a biocompatible excipient wall and containing a second bioactive agent for release pulsatily to potentiate a subsequent response.
  8. 18
    The composition of any one of Claims 15 to 17 wherein said microcapsules have a size greater than approximately 1 micrometer.
  9. 19
    The composition of any one of Claims 11 to 17 wherein said microcapsules have a size between approximately 1 micrometer and approximately 10 micrometers.
  10. 20
    The composition of any one of Claims 15 to 17 wherein said microcapsules have a size greater than approximately 10 micrometers.
  11. 21
    A method of delivering a bioactive agent to the mucosally associated lymphoreticular tissues of an animal, comprising the steps of:-­ (a) encapsulating effective amounts of said agent in a biocompatible excipient to form microcapsules having a size less than approximately 10 micrometers, and(b) administering an effective amount of said microcapsules to said animals so that a therapeutic amount of said microcapsules reach and are taken up by said mucosally associated lymphoreticular tissues.
  12. 24
    The method of any one of Claims 21 to 23 wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of a drug, nutrient, immunomodulator, lymphokine, monokine, cytokine, antigen and allergen.
  13. 25
    The method of any one of Claims 21 to 24 wherein said microcapsules have a size between approximately 1 micrometer and approximately 10 micrometers.
  14. 27
    The method of any one of Claims 21 to 24 wherein said microcapsules have a size less than approximately 5 micrometers so that said microcapsules can pass through said mucosally associated lymphoreticular tissues.
  15. 35
    A method of immunizing an animal, the method comprising the step of administering to said animal a mixture of an effective amount of a first free bioactive agent and microcapsules having a biocompatible excipient wall material and containing a second bioactive agent, wherein said microcapsules are of a size greater than approximately 10 micrometers and wherein said first bioactive agent provides a primary immunological response and said microcapsules release said second bioactive agent pulsatily to potentiate a subsequent immunological response.
  16. 36
    A method of potentiating the immune response of an animal, the method comprising the step of administering to said animal a mixture of effective amounts of first biocompatible microcapsules having a size less than approximately 10 micrometers and containing a first bioactive agent and second biocompatible microcapsules having a size greater than approximately 10 micrometers and containing a second bioactive agent, said first microcapsules providing a primary immunological response and said second microcapsules releasing said second agent pulsatily to potentiate a subsequent immunological response.
  17. 38
    The method of any one of Claims 35 to 37 wherein at least one of said bioactive agents is selected from the group consisting of an antigen, allergen, lymphokine, monokine, cytokine and immunomodulator.
  18. 39
    A method of providing systemic immunity in an animal, the method comprising the steps of:-­ (a) encapsulating effective amounts of an antigen in a biocompatible excipient to form microcapsules having a size less than approximately 5 micrometers, and(b) administering said microcapsules to said animal orally, nasally, by oral inhalation, rectally or ophthalmically.
  19. 41
    A method of providing mucosal immunity in an animal, the method comprising the steps of:(a) encapsulating effective amounts of an antigen in a biocompatible excipient to form microcapsules having a size from between approximately 5 micrometers and approximately 10 micrometers, and(b) administering said microcapsules to said animal orally, nasally, by oral inhalation, rectally or ophthalmically.
  20. 42
    A method of providing systemic and mucosal immunity to an animal, the method comprising administering to said animal a plurality of first microcapsules containing antigen and having a size less than approximately 5 micrometers and a plurality of second microcapsules containing antigen and having a size between approximately 5 micrometers and approximately 10 micrometers, and wherein said administering step comprises the delivery of a mixture of said first and second microcapsules to said animal to provide both a systemic immunity and mucosal immunity.
  21. 45
    A method of providing a composition for delivering a bioactive agent to the mucosally associated lymphoreticular tissues of an animal, the method comprising the steps of encapsulating effective amounts of said agent in a biocompatible excipient to form microcapsules having a size less than approximately 10 micrometers.
  22. 47
    A method of preparing a composition for potentiating the immune response of an animal, the method comprising the step of adding together effective amounts of a first, fee bioactive agent and microcapsules having a biocompatible excipient wall and containing a second bioactive agent to form a mixture which is administered to an animal wherein said first agent provides a primary response and wherein said microcapsules release said second agent pulsatily to potentiate a subsequent response.
  23. 50
    A method of preparing a composition for providing systemic immunity in an animal, the method comprising the step of encapsulating effective amounts of an antigen in a biocompatible excipient to form microcapsules having a size less than approximately 5 micrometers wherein said microcapsules are to be administered to said animal.
  24. 51
    A method of increasing the bioavailability of a bioactive agent to an animal comprising the steps of:-­ (a) encapsulating effective amounts of said agent in a biocompatible excipient to form microcapsules having a size less than approximately 10 micrometers;and(b) administering an effective amount of said microcapsules to said animal orally.
  25. 52
    A method for delivering a bioactive agent to an animal to initiate an immune response the method comprising the step of parenterally administering to said animal a bioactive agent encapsulated in a biocompatible excipient forming a microcapsule having a size less than 10 micrometers.
Independent claims25