0 Christie, R. J. Findley, D.J. Dunfee, M. Hansen, R. Olsen, Steven C. Grainger, D.W. 2004 Vaccine 24 1462-1469 October 3, 2005 401 biobullet, PEG hydrogel, bacteria encapsulation, wildlife, vaccination, brucellosis, brucella, wildlife health, hydrogel, vaccine delivery methods Photopolymerized poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG) crosslinked hydrogels were assessed for their ability to serve as a payload vehicle to deliver viable bacterial vaccine (RB51 anti-brucellosis vaccine to bison in Yellowstone National Park) ballistically using thermoplastic degradable biobullets. PEG modified with degradable glycolide or lactide oligomers capped with photopolymerizable methacrylate groups served to crosslink the hydrogel vaccine carrier inside commercial hydropropylcellulose biobullets. Release of 1 micron diameter model fluorescent particles from hydrogels followed known degradation trends for glycolide- and lactide-modified PEG hydrogels. All particles were released from PEG-co-glycolide hydrogels after ~10 days and PEG-co-lactide hydrogels after ~45 days following gel degradation. Minimal particle release was observed from pure PEG dimethacrylate hydrogels over 40 days. P. aeruginosa (strain PAO1) and RB51 brucella live vaccine exhibit excellent viability following exposure to photopolymerization encapsulation within these gel matrices. Hydrogels photopolymerized into the payload chamber of biobullets exhibit similar ballistic properties to commercially available biobullets, and penetrate and remain intact intramuscularly when fired into live elk to release their gel payload in the host. Found in Bison Library and online, pdf on computerNatureBib ID: 652051 submitted to Journal of Controlled Release http://www.bioen.utah.edu/faculty/DWG/Publications/Publication%20PDFs/Vaccine,%20Christie%202006.pdf