Nasal vaccination with poly(β-amino ester)-poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) hybrid nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Immunology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Mucosal vaccination is crucial for stimulating both local and systemic immunity.
• Free vaccine antigens applied to mucosa often yield inadequate systemic responses, necessitating adjuvants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate novel hybrid nanoparticles as effective nasal vaccine carriers.
• To assess the immunogenicity of bovine serum albumin (BSA) loaded nanoparticles for intranasal delivery.

Main Methods:

• Hybrid nanoparticles were synthesized using a double emulsion-solvent evaporation technique, combining poly(β-amino ester) and poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide).
• Nanoparticles were characterized for size, morphology, physical stability, and encapsulation efficiency.
• In vivo immunogenicity was assessed following nasal administration in a vaccination study.
• Cellular toxicity was evaluated using Calu-3 and A549 cell lines.

Main Results:

• Cationic spherical nanoparticles (average size 240nm) with high encapsulation efficiency and good physical stability were successfully prepared.
• The nanoparticle formulation demonstrated minimal toxicity to Calu-3 and A549 cells.
• Nasal vaccination with the nanoparticles induced significantly higher humoral immune responses compared to free antigen.
• Both mucosal and systemic immunity were enhanced, with activated Th1 and Th2 immune pathways indicated by cytokine profiles.

Conclusions:

• The developed hybrid nanoparticles show significant potential as a delivery system for nasal vaccines.
• This formulation effectively enhances immune responses, particularly for poorly antigenic proteins, via the intranasal route.