Desenvolvimento de processo de encapsulamento de anticorpos IgY visando manutenção da viabilidade

Abstract

The microparticles are composed of an encapsulating material which isolates an active substance in order to be preserved, being released only at the appropriate time and place. Antibodies are able to recognize the pathogens that trigger their destruction or inactivation, thus ensuring immunity. The production of specific Ig-Y class antibodies was controversial when compared to mammalian antibodies. Oral administration of IgY has proven to be intact treatment of acidosis and degradation throughout the stomach, intestine and site of infection. Therefore, the objective of the present work was to microencapsulate IgY by the ionic gelation technique with sodium alginate and chitosan. The methods used involved the extraction and purification of IgY by the salt precipitation method, ELISA quantitative and indirect, SDS-PAGE electrophoresis, microencapsulation by ionic gelling and the characterization of the obtained particles (size, morphology, humidity and encapsulation efficiency). Extraction of IgY was considered efficient with acceptable purity and the concentration of 10.22 ± 1.8 mg/mL of antibodies reactive against BSA (bovine serum albumin) of 0.3406 nm was obtained. The microencapsulation technique was efficient in conferring dense and spherical microparticles with a size of 1-2 mm and 96% humidity. The encapsulation efficiency was 42.8% when directly analyzing the microparticles and 99.9% by the indirect method, analyzing the residual solution of CaCl2/chitosan. After the encapsulation process, IgY maintained its reactivity, thus, it can be affirmed that the process maintained IgY in its viable conditions (active) before and after the procedure, allowing further research to be performed to verify the continuity of this activity under different storage periods and under certain conditions, as well as the application of the microparticles.