the mucosal adjuvant potential of cross-linked dextran microspheres as dry powder

objective(s) the immunoadjuvant potential of cross-linked dextran microspheres (cdm) as absorption enhancer and quillaja saponins (qs) as immunomodulator adjuvant was evaluated. materials and methods cdm loaded or tetanus-mixed toxoid (tt) or quillaja saponin (qs) were nasally administered to rabbits in dry powder form, three times in 2 weeks interval and serum igg and nasal lavage siga titers were determined by elisa. results the highest serum igg titer was induced by parenteral immunization through alum adsorbed tt (p< 0.001). among nasally immunized groups, the highest serum igg titer was induced by (tt+qs)cdm (p< 0.01). mixing of cdm with tt+qs powders (cdm+tt+qs), could not induce the high serum igg titers as (tt+qs)cdm (p< 0.01). cdm loaded with tt+qs induced higher igg titers than cdm loaded with tt alone (p< 0.01). no significant difference was observed in nasal lavage siga titers of various groups.   conclusion cdm microspheres loaded with tt+qs significantly increased serum anti-tt igg titers, but mixing of cdm with tt+qs powder could not increase igg titers. both qs and cdm adjuvant could not significantly increase the lavage anti-tt iga titers.