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Updated: Mar 16, 2026

Facile Preparation of Internally Self-assembled Lipid Particles Stabilized by Carbon Nanotubes
Published on: February 19, 2016
A shared N-terminal hydrophobic tail for the formation of nanoparticulates
Xiao Zhang1,2, Kaihang Wang1, Qingshan Lin1
1State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology & Molecular Diagnostics, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Aim:
Nanoparticulate design is important for the production of nanotechnological materials and passive immunogens. Using lessons from our hepatitis E vaccine, we herein design protein-based nanoparticles through incorporation of an N-terminal hydrophobic tail (NHT, located on HEV ORF2 aa368-460).
Materials & Methods:
Flu HA1, HIV gp41/gp120/p24, HBsAg and HPV16 L2 were fused with NHT, expressed in Escherichia coli and subjected to self-assembly in vitro. Nanosized particles were characterized by size-exclusion chromatography and negative electron microscopy. Immunogenicity was assessed in mice.
Results:
All the NHT-fused proteins spontaneously formed nanoparticulates and presented with immunogenicity approximately 2-log over their nonassembling forms.
Conclusion:
Protein self-assembly provides an attractive means to create nanosized particles that bear specific antigens. Our strategy outlines a novel and shared method for the design of immunogenic nanoparticles.
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