Chitosan nanoparticle antigen uptake in epithelial monolayers can predict mucosal but not systemic in vivo immune response by oral delivery

This study compared in vitro and in vivo antigen delivery effects of ultrapure chitosan (CS) chloride. CS nanoparticles were formulated to incorporate ovalbumin (OVA) as a model antigen and characterised for size, charge, OVA complexation and release. The effect of CS:OVA nanoparticles on cell viability, epithelial tight junctions and transepithelial permeation of OVA was tested on Caco-2 monolayer in vitro intestinal model. The system’s ability to elicit immune responses was subsequently tested in vivo. The work confirmed that CS complexes with OVA into nano-size entities. Nanocomplexes displayed favourable delivery properties, namely OVA release and no notable cytotoxicity. CS:OVA markedly enhanced antigen delivery across Caco-2 monolayers. However, the system did not elicit notable in vivo immune responses (some mucosal response was apparent) following oral delivery. The study highlights that a clear effect on antigen permeability across epithelial monolayers in vitro may predict the in vivo mucosal but not systemic immune response following oral delivery.