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Updated: Jan 25, 2026

An Optimized Method for Isolating and Expanding Invariant Natural Killer T Cells from Mouse Spleen
Published on: October 29, 2015
Nano spray dryer for vectorizing α-galactosylceramide in polymeric nanoparticles: A single step process to enhance
Michelangelo Bauwelz Gonzatti1, Maria Eduarda Perrud Sousa2, Ariane Simões Tunissi3
1Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Institute for Technological Research of State of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Abstract:
The recognition of α-galactosylceramide (αGC), a high-affinity CD1d antigen, by the invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) lymphocytes results in potent immunostimulatory responses that have been exploited in advanced cancer patients. Therefore, to improve αGC biological activity, several studies vectorized this agonist in PLGA and/or PEG-based nanoparticles. Despite promising findings, these approaches require several steps, from organic solvent decontamination through extrusion in membrane systems. Using a nano spray dryer, we vectorized αGC into a cationic copolymer (dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate - DBM) in a single step process, free of organic solvent. This methodology allowed the production of stable αGC-vectorized nanoparticles (DBM + αGC) with a more potent biological activity than the free agonist. DBM nanoparticles improved in vivo αGC loading into the CD1d molecule and induced a higher frequency of IFN-γ-expressing iNKT cells. Consequently, mice treated with DBM + αGC presented higher levels of serum IFN-γ than those treated with free agonist. Also, vectorized nanoparticles improved αGC ability to control the growth of murine lung metastatic carcinoma. Thus, this is the first study showing that nano spray dryer technology is a simple and alternative approach to enhance iNKT responses.
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