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Published on: January 24, 2025
Alginate-coated chitosan nanogels differentially modulate class-A and class-B CpG-ODN targeting of dendritic cells
Thomas Démoulins1, Panagiota Milona1, Kenneth C McCullough1
1Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI), Mittelhäusern, Switzerland.
Abstract:
CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODNs) interact with dendritic cells (DCs), but evidence is less clear for CpG-ODN admixed with or incorporated into vaccine delivery vehicles. We loaded alginate-coated chitosan-nanogels (Ng) with class-A or class-B CpG-ODN, and compared with the same CpG-ODNs free or admixed with empty Ng. Experiments were performed on both porcine and human blood DC subpopulations. Encapsulation of class-A CpG-ODN (loading into Ng) strongly reduced the CpG-ODN uptake and intracellular trafficking in the cytosol; this was associated with a marked deficiency in IFN-α induction. In contrast, encapsulation of class-B CpG-ODN increased its uptake and did not influence consistently intracellular trafficking into the nucleus. The choice of CpG-ODN class as adjuvant is thus critical in terms of how it will behave with nanoparticulate vaccine delivery vehicles. The latter can have distinctive modulatory influences on the CpG-ODN, which would require definition for different CpG-ODN and delivery vehicles prior to vaccine formulation.
From The Clinical Editor:
This basic science study investigates the role of class-A and class-B CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides loaded into alginate-coated chitosan nanogels, demonstrating differential effects between the two classes as related to the use of these nanoformulations as vaccine delivery vehicles.
Insights
The class of CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODNs) significantly impacts their interaction with nanogel vaccine delivery vehicles. Encapsulation affects uptake and immune response differently for class-A and class-B CpG-ODNs.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology in vaccine development
- Immunology and adjuvant research
- Biomaterials for drug delivery
Background:
- CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODNs) are known immune stimulants.
- Their interaction with vaccine delivery vehicles like nanogels is not fully understood.
- Dendritic cells (DCs) are key targets for CpG-ODN activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the differential effects of class-A and class-B CpG-ODNs when loaded into alginate-coated chitosan nanogels.
- To compare encapsulated CpG-ODNs with free or admixed CpG-ODNs.
- To assess the impact of nanogel encapsulation on CpG-ODN uptake, trafficking, and immune response in dendritic cells.
Main Methods:
- Loading of class-A and class-B CpG-ODNs into alginate-coated chitosan nanogels.
- Comparison of encapsulated CpG-ODNs with free or empty nanogel-admixed CpG-ODNs.
- Experiments conducted on porcine and human blood dendritic cell (DC) subpopulations.
Main Results:
- Encapsulation of class-A CpG-ODN reduced uptake and IFN-α induction.
- Encapsulation of class-B CpG-ODN increased uptake and did not consistently affect nuclear trafficking.
- Nanoparticulate delivery vehicles exhibit distinct modulatory effects on different CpG-ODN classes.
Conclusions:
- The class of CpG-ODN is critical when used with nanoparticulate vaccine delivery vehicles.
- Nanogels differentially influence the behavior of class-A and class-B CpG-ODNs.
- Understanding these interactions is essential for effective vaccine formulation.

