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Updated: Jun 30, 2025
Author Spotlight: Development and Evaluation of a Cationic Nanoemulsion-Encapsulated Retinoic Acid System for Mucosal Vaccination
Published on: February 23, 2024
Layer-by-layer nanoparticle encapsulating all-trans retinoic acid and CpG as a mucosal adjuvant targeting colorectal
Shiwei Mi1,2, Wei Li1,2, Yixing Wen1,2
1Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Key Laboratory of Colloid, Interface and Chemical Thermodynamics, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China. xueguang@iccas.ac.cn.
Abstract:
Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks among the most prevalent cancers globally, demanding innovative therapeutic strategies. Immunotherapy, a promising avenue, employs cancer vaccines to activate the immune system against tumors. However, conventional approaches fall short of eliciting robust responses within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, where CRC originates. Harnessing the potential of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and cytosine-phosphorothioate-guanine (CpG), we developed layered nanoparticles using a layer-by-layer assembly method to co-deliver these agents. ATRA, crucial for gut immunity, was efficiently encapsulated alongside CpG within these nanoparticles. Administering these ATRA@CpG-NPs, combined with ovalbumin peptide (OVA), effectively inhibited orthotopic CRC growth in mice. Our approach leveraged the inherent benefits of ATRA and CpG, demonstrating superior efficacy in activating dendritic cells, imprinting T cells with gut-homing receptors, and inhibiting tumor growth. This mucosal adjuvant presents a promising strategy for CRC immunotherapy, showcasing the potential for targeting gut-associated immune responses in combating colorectal malignancies.
