Authors
1
Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Medical College & Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Thandalam, Chennai - 602105, Tamil Nadu, India
2
Centre for Aquaculture, Sathyabama Institute of Science and technology, Chennai -600119, Tamilnadu, India
3
Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Thandalam, Chennai - 602105, Tamil Nadu, India
4
Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory, PG and Research Department of Zoology, C Abdul Hakeem College, Melvisharam, Tamil Nadu, 632509, India
10.22092/ijfs.2026.136498
Abstract
This study evaluates the potential of chitosan tripolyphosphate/calcium phosphate (Cs/Tpp-Cap) nanoparticles as carriers for oral DNA vaccine delivery in fish. In aqueous solution, positively charged Cs/Tpp-Cap nanoparticles interact electrostatically with negatively charged DNA molecules, resulting in the spontaneous self-assembly of stable nanocomplexes. This self-assembly strategy provides an innovative means of modifying anionic Cs/Tpp-Cap hybrid nanoparticles for effective oral DNA vaccine applications. The DNA vaccine was constructed by cloning the Vibrio anguillarum outer membrane porin (OMP) gene (993 bp) into the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1, generating the recombinant plasmid pVAOMP DNA. The morphology and structural characteristics of Cs/Tpp-Cap nanoparticles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). For encapsulation, equal volumes of heated Cs/Tpp-Cap and pVAOMP DNA solutions were combined, achieving a DNA binding efficiency of 85%. Gene distribution and expression analyses confirmed the successful incorporation of the VAOMP gene and revealed the upregulation of immune-related genes in vaccinated fish. These findings demonstrate that Cs/Tpp-Cap nanoparticles can function as an efficient, biocompatible, and non-viral delivery system for oral DNA vaccination in aquaculture species, providing a promising platform for disease prevention in fish farming.
Keywords
)