Potential of polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) for delivery Jembrana disease DNA vaccine Model (pEGFP-C1-tat)

Background: The development of a vaccine for Jembrana disease is needed to prevent losses in Indonesia's Bali cattle industry. A DNA vaccine model (pEGFP-C1-tat) that requires a functional delivery system will be developed. Polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) may have potential as a delivery system for the vaccine model.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the in vitro potential of PLGA as a delivery system for pEGFP-C1-tat.

Methods: Consensus and codon optimization for the tat gene was completed using a bioinformatic method, and the product was inserted into a pEGFP-C1 vector. Cloning of the pEGFP-C1-tat was successfully performed, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction analysis confirmed DNA isolation. PLGA-pEGFP-C1-tat solutions were prepared
for encapsulated formulation testing, physicochemical characterization, stability testing with DNase I, and cytotoxicity testing. The PLGA-pEGFP-C1-tat solutions were transfected in HeLa cells, and gene expression was observed by fluorescent microscopy and real-time PCR.
Results: The successful acquisition of transformant bacteria was confirmed by PCR. The PLGA:DNA:polyvinyl alcohol ratio formulation with optimal encapsulation was 4%:0.5%:2%,
physicochemical characterization of PLGA revealed a polydispersity index value of 0.246, a particle size of 925 nm, and a zeta potential value of −2.31 mV. PLGA succeeded in protecting pEGFP-C1-tat from enzymatic degradation, and the percentage viability from the cytotoxicity
test of PLGA-pEGFP-C1-tat was 98.03%. The PLGA-pEGFP-C1-tat demonstrated luminescence of the EGFP-tat fusion protein and mRNA transcription was detected.

Conclusions: PLGA has good potential as a delivery system for pEGFP-C1-tat.