Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2025
09:39
Injectable Supramolecular Polymer-Nanoparticle Hydrogels for Cell and Drug Delivery Applications
Published on: February 7, 2021
8.0K
Dynamic Covalent Dextran Hydrogels as Injectable, Self-Adjuvating Peptide Vaccine Depots
Bowen Fan1,2, Diana Torres García3, Marziye Salehi1,3
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands.
ACS Chemical Biology
|February 17, 2023
Summary
New dextran hydrogels, featuring dynamic covalent crosslinks, offer injectable depots for peptide vaccines. These self-healing materials protect and release antigens, activating T-cells without altering immunogenicity.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Immunology
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Dextran-based hydrogels are biocompatible materials suitable for therapeutic applications.
- Injectable drug delivery systems are crucial for efficient vaccine administration.
- Dynamic covalent chemistry offers tunable properties for advanced biomaterials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize a novel dynamic covalent dextran hydrogel for peptide vaccine delivery.
- To evaluate the injectable, self-healing, and antigen-releasing properties of the hydrogel.
- To assess the immunogenicity and T-cell activation potential of delivered peptide antigens.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of dextran hydrogels using dynamic covalent crosslinks (double Michael addition).
- Characterization of hydrogel properties: injectability, shear-thinning, self-healing, and peptide loading/release kinetics.
- In vitro evaluation of peptide antigen (SIINFEKL) release and T-cell activation assays.
Main Results:
- The synthesized dextran hydrogels exhibited shear-thinning and self-healing properties, enabling injection.
- Predictable sub-millimolar loading and sustained release of the model peptide antigen SIINFEKL were achieved.
- Released SIINFEKL successfully activated T-cells, indicating preserved immunogenicity.
- The hydrogels demonstrated adjuvant potential and were non-toxic.
Conclusions:
- Dynamic covalent dextran hydrogels are effective injectable depots for peptide vaccines.
- These hydrogels protect peptide antigens and facilitate sustained release, maintaining their immunogenicity.
- The developed hydrogels show significant potential for next-generation vaccine delivery platforms.
