Non-viral vaccination through cationic guanidium polymer-pDNA polyplex mediated gene transfer

Nanoscale. 2023 Jun 23;15(24):10351-10359. doi: 10.1039/d2nr06428f.

Abstract

Vaccination through cellular transfection of nucleotide-based vaccines is a powerful approach to combatting disease. Plasmid DNA (pDNA) vaccines are particularly promising vectors for non-viral immunomodulation that afford high degrees of potency and flexibility. Versatile guanidinium-functionalized poly(oxanorbornene)imide (PONI-Guan) homopolymers were used to facilitate non-disruptive pDNA condensation into discrete polyplexes, enabling efficient in vitro transfection of endothelial cells and HD-11 macrophages. Translation of these vectors for vaccination of white leghorn chickens against Newcastle disease virus (NDV) elicited strong humoral immune responses against the virus. This approach presents a highly versatile method for targeted immunomodulation in vivo, with the potential for translatability as a non-viral vaccine platform.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chickens* / genetics
  • DNA / genetics
  • Endothelial Cells
  • Plasmids / genetics
  • Polymers*
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • Polymers
  • DNA