Oral delivery system for bioactive agents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a functional feed and an oral delivery system for delivery of bioactive macromolecules. The oral delivery system comprises ethylenediammonium alginate which is a vehicle for delivery of macromolecular drugs. The oral delivery system according to the present invention is particularly suitable for use in combination with functional feeds in fish.

1 . Oral delivery system comprising ethylenediammonium alginate and at least one bioactive agent for use in a therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment in fish. 
     
     
         2 . Oral delivery system according to  claim 1 , wherein the bioactive agent is encapsulated or entrapped in the ethylenediammonium alginate. 
     
     
         3 . Oral delivery system according to  claim 1  for delivery of a bioactive agent selected from the group consisting of proteins, peptides, vaccines, antibodies, antigens, hormones, enzymes, immune stimulants, drugs, probiotics, prebiotics, polynucleotides, nucleotides, and amino acids. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . Oral delivery system according to  claim 1  for use in a fish species selected from the group consisting of omnivorous and carnivorous species, preferably from a cold-water fish species. 
     
     
         6 . Oral delivery system according to  claim 1  for use in a gastric fish, more preferably for a fish with a short intestinal tract, most preferably in a species selected from a group consisting of salmonids, basses, breams, codfish, halibut, turbot, flounders, grouper, tuna, tilapia, and pangasius. 
     
     
         7 . Ethylenediammonium alginate for use in fish as an oral delivery system comprising a bioactive agent in a therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment. 
     
     
         8 . Ethylenediammonium alginate according to  claim 7  for use in a omnivorous or carnivorous species. 
     
     
         9 . Ethylenediammonium alginate according to  claim 8 , for use in a coldwater fish. 
     
     
         10 . Ethylenediammonium alginate according to  claim 7 , wherein the alginate matrix is in a form of particles, preferably as beads, and most preferably in form of spherical beads. 
     
     
         11 . Ethylenediammonium alginate beads according to  claim 10 , whereby the mean particle size is in the range of 1 μm to 10 mm, preferably in the range of 300 μm to 2000 μm. 
     
     
         12 . Ethylenediammonium alginate beads according to  claim 10 , wherein the mean particle size is no more than 300 μm, preferably is no more than 200 μm, more preferably is no more than 100 μm and most preferably is no more than 25 μm. 
     
     
         13 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . Functional feed comprising at least one bioactive agent encapsulated in: ethylenediammonium alginate for use in therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment of fish. 
     
     
         17 .- 21 . (canceled)