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Updated: Aug 22, 2025
The Synthesis of RGD-functionalized Hydrogels as a Tool for Therapeutic Applications
Published on: October 7, 2016
Antigen stabilizing hydrogels based on cyclodextrins and polyethylene glycol act as type-2 adjuvants with suppressed
Tomoya Hayashi1, Fumika Nakagawa2, Yoshitaka Ohno3
1Department of Physical Pharmaceutics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan; Division of Vaccine Science, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo (IMSUT), Tokyo, Japan; Mock Up Vaccine, Center for Vaccine and Adjuvant Research (CVAR), National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition (NIBIOHN), Osaka, Japan.
Abstract:
Recent viral pandemics have increased global demand for vaccines. However, the supply of effective and safe vaccine not only to developed countries but also developing countries with inadequate storage equipment is still challenging due to the lack of robust systems which improve the efficacy and the stability of vaccines with few side effects. In our previous study, polypseudorotaxane (PPRX) hydrogels based on cyclodextrin (CyD) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) significantly improved the stability of antibody preparations and showed no serious adverse effects after subcutaneous injection, suggesting the possibility as safe vaccine formulations to stabilize an antigen protein. Moreover, recent studies have reported that one of the CyD derivatives, hydroxypropyl-β-CyD (HP-β-CyD), acts as an adjuvant to enhance protective type-2 immune responses. However, it is still unknown that CyD PPRX hydrogels enhance not only the stability of an antigen protein but also its immunogenicity with tolerable side effects. Here, we demonstrate that α- and γ-CyD PPRX hydrogels containing an antigen protein significantly induce antigen-specific type-2 immune responses. Moreover, α- and γ-CyD PPRX hydrogels showed negligible local irritation at the injection site, although subcutaneous injection of α-CyD alone induced skin lesion. Finally, shaking stability of the antigen protein at room temperature was significantly improved by being included in α- and γ-CyD PPRX hydrogels. These results propose the possibility of α- and γ-CyD PPRX hydrogels as novel vaccine formulations which improve both the immunogenicity and stability of an antigen protein with suppressed local irritation.
