Liposome fusogenicity and entrapment efficiency of antigen determine the Th1/Th2 bias of antigen-specific immune response.

Liposomes, either alone or in combination with additional immunostimulatory molecules, could be used for the delivery of antigens as vaccine adjuvants. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of (a) composition (fusogenicity and charge) of large multilamellar liposomes, (b) antigen entrapment efficiency into cationic liposomes and (c) addition of immunostimulatory peptidoglycan monomer (PGM) into liposomal formulations on intensity and direction of antigen-specific humoral immune response. Ovalbumin (OVA) was used as a model antigen and liposomal formulations were tested in a well defined experimental mice model. It was shown that, by means of controlling ionic strength of the media, entrapment efficiency of OVA was enhanced and this lead to Th1 biased immune response. Also, by varying liposome composition and increasing fusogenicity of liposomes immune response was directed toward Th1. Addition of immunostimulatory PGM into liposomal formulation resulted in a switch toward Th2 type immune response.