Combination Nanovaccine Demonstrates Synergistic Enhancement in Efficacy against Influenza

H5N1 influenza virus has the potential to become a significant global health threat, and next generation vaccine technologies are needed. In this work, the combined efficacy of two nanoadjuvant platforms (polyanhydride nanoparticles and pentablock copolymer-based hydrogels) to induce protective immunity against H5N1 influenza virus was examined. Mice received two subcutaneous vaccinations (day 0 and 21) containing 10 μg of H5 hemagglutinin trimer alone or in combination with the nanovaccine platforms. Nanovaccine immunization induced high neutralizing antibody titers that were sustained through 70 days postimmunization. Finally, mice were intranasally challenged with A/H5N1 VNH5N1-PR8CDC-RG virus and monitored for 14 days. Animals receiving the combination nanovaccine had lower viral loads in the lung and weight loss after challenge in comparison to animals vaccinated with each platform alone. These data demonstrate the synergy between polyanhydride nanoparticles and pentablock copolymer-based hydrogels as adjuvants in the design of a more efficacious influenza vaccine.