Delivery system for entrapping charged macromolecules and a method for preparing same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a new delivery system and method for producing same. The delivery system is a biphasic system of delivering charged macromolecules and comprises of a negatively charged hydrophobic organic phase and a positively charged inorganic phase. The organic phase and the inorganic phase entrapping added macromolecules. The macromolecules are entrapped by electrostatic bonds between the organic phase, the inorganic phase and the macromolecules. The method for producing the delivery system comprises the steps of contacting together and mixing a negatively charged organic phase, a charged macro-molecule and a positively charged inorganic phase.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A biphasic delivery system for charged molecules comprising a negatively charged hydrophobic organic phase and a positively charged inorganic phase, said organic phase and said inorganic phase being capable of entrapping charged molecules with electrostatic bonding of the charged molecules with the organic phase and the inorganic phase.  
     
     
         2 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the charged molecules are macromolecules.  
     
     
         3 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the organic phase is an oil-in-water emulsion comprising an electrostatically neutral oil and a negatively charged organic compound.  
     
     
         4 . The delivery system of  claim 3 , wherein the neutral oil is selected from the group consisting of squalane, soybean oil, sesame oil and peanut oil.  
     
     
         5 . The delivery system of  claim 3 , wherein the negatively charged organic compound is dicetylphosphate.  
     
     
         6 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the inorganic phase comprises alum.  
     
     
         7 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery system has a diameter of at most five micrometers when said charged moleculles are entrapped therein.  
     
     
         8 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , further comprising charged molecules.  
     
     
         9 . The delivery system of  claim 8 , wherein the charged molecules are DNA.  
     
     
         10 . A method for producing a delivery system as defined in  claim 1 , said method comprising the steps of contacting a negatively charged hydrophobic organic phase with charged molecules and a positively charged inorganic phase and mixing same for entrapping said charged molecules between the organic phase and the inorganic phase.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the negatively charged organic phase and the charged molecules are first mixed together, followed by addition and mixing of the positively charged inorganic phase therein.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the organic phase is an oil-in-water emulsion comprising a neutral oil and a negatively charged organic compound.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the neutral oil is selected from the group consisting of squalane, soybean oil, sesame oil and peanut oil.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the negatively charged organic compound is dicetylphosphate.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the inorganic phase comprises alum.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the delivery system has a diameter of at most five micrometers when said charged molecules are entrapped therein.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said charged molecules are DNA.