Lectin anchored PLGA nanoparticles for oral mucosal immunization against hepatitis B
Authors: Bhuvaneshwar Vaidya
Suresh P Vyas
Govind P Agrawal
Shailja Tiwari
Neeraj Mishra
Journal: Journal of drug targeting (2011)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: α-l-fucose; LTA; nanocarriers; M cell; immune response
Affiliations: Drug Delivery Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. H. S. Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar-470003, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Abstract:  Present study aimed at exploring the potential of α-l-fucose specific, LTA (Lotus tetragonolobus from Winged or Asparagus pea) as a homing device for nanocarriers to target the M cell for elicitation of strong immune response. LTA grafted poly(lactic-co-glycolic acids) (PLGA) nanoparticles encapsulating hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was developed and characterized for shape, size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and antigen loading efficiency. The peyer's patch uptake was studied by using confocal laser scanning microscopy technique using dual staining technique. The immune stimulating potential was assessed by measuring anti-HBsAg titer in serum of balb/c mice. Induction of the mucosal immunity was assessed by estimating secretory immunoglobulin A level in the salivary, intestinal, and vaginal secretion and cytokine (interleukin-2 and interferon-γ) levels in the spleen homogenates. Furthermore, IgG1 and IgG2a isotype were determined to confirm the T(H)1/T(H)2 mixed immune response. The LTA anchored PLGA nanoparticles have demonstrated approximately four-fold increase in the degree of interaction with the bovine submaxillary mucin (BSM). The results demonstrated that LTA anchored PLGA nanoparticles elicited strong mucosal and systemic response and hence could be a promising carrier adjuvant for the M cell targeted oral mucosal immunization against Hepatitis B. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 This paper appears to be part of a large set of papers (n=200 as of today and growing) that share a very similar layout. Subsets of these papers appear to share similar Kaplan-Meier survival plots, correlation plots, flow cytometry panels, and overlapping photos of wound-healing, transwell assays, etc. Yet, there is little to no overlap between the authors of these papers or their departments and affiliated institutions. I have been calling this set the  Comb papers, because the Kaplan-Meier plots have a comb-like appearance. For PubPeer user Hoya Camphorifolia, the survival plots look like Lego blocks. Many of these survival plots show a sudden drop of survival at 75 months. Another characteristic is the lack of percentages in their Tables I in columns promising percentages, and the spread of patients into roughly equally-sized group, no matter which parameter is chosen. The very similar layout and overlapping photos suggest these papers might have all been created by the same entity, perhaps a paper mill. Here is Figure 1C from this paper, showing the Comb- (or Lego-)like survival plot. ![file] And here is Table I with its undelivered percentages in the High Low columns. ![file] , 
 The correlation plot shown in Figure 3D of this paper looks remarkably similar to the correlation plot in Figure 3D of J Li et al., ERMPS (2020), DOI: 10.26355 eurrev_202006_21517 - https: pubpeer.com publications 3546083C2C68EA3CAF1E9490404FE1 Here is an illustration: ![file] ,