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AbstractThe aim of this work was to develop a liposomal formulation which could act as a carrier for allergens during oral desensitization therapy. A model protein, ovalbumin, was associated with negatively charged, multilamellar vesicles of various compositions and their stability in the presence of synthetic intestinal media (bile salt, pancreatic enzymes and their combination) was investigated.Liposomes containing soya phosphatidylcholine as the main lipid, regardless of their cholesterol content (20-40), were unable to protect ovalbumin against the combined action of pancreatic enzymes and bile salt. In contrast, liposomes prepared from distearoylphosphatidylcholine and cholesterol (6:3.5 molar ratio) were more stable: about 50 of the lipid remained as liposomes after a 4-h incubation at 37°C and intact ovalbumin could be demonstrated therein by immunoblotting.The immunomodulating properties of liposomes were tested by following changes in serum IgE levels (by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis) in Balb/C mice sensitized to ovalbumin, after feeding various preparations. In this model, free ovalbumin was able to provoke a premature fall in IgE levels, and liposomes, whatever their composition, contributed no further effect.