Effects of formulation and chemical modification on peptides, stability in human serum and mouse serum

by Imo, Ulunma Obioma

Synthetic peptides are vaccine candidates. However, they are poor immunogens in vivo due to their rapid degradation in bioIogical fluids. Chemical modification and formulation of peptides may increasetheir stability in vivo. This study investigated the effects of chernical modification and formulation on the degradation kinetics of three synthetic peptides in human and mouse semm using reverse phase HPLC. A human MUCl peptide and its multiple antigen peptide (MAP-4) analog (candidatesfor cancer vaccines), an ovalbumin peptide (Ova 3234 and its biotin analog, another ovalbumin peptide (Ova 257- 264) and its formulation in PLGA rnicrospheres were studied. MAP clustering and biotinylation increased the serum half-lives of peptides by three and five fold respectively, while the formulation in PLGA microspheres increased the half-life by 132 fold. This shidy indicates that MAP clustering, biotinylation and formulation in PLGA microspheres will increase the peptide stability in biological fluids, ths increasing their immunological effectiveness. I wouid like to express my profound gratitude to GOD ALMIGHTY and father of my