Poly-ϵ-caprolactone/chitosan nanoparticles provide strong adjuvant effect for hepatitis B antigen

Nanomedicine (Lond). 2017 Oct;12(19):2335-2348. doi: 10.2217/nnm-2017-0138. Epub 2017 Sep 4.

Abstract

Aim: This work aims to investigate the adjuvant effect of poly-ϵ-caprolactone/chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and the plasmid DNA encoding HBsAg (pRC/CMV-HBs).

Methods: Both antigens were adsorbed onto preformed NPs. Vaccination studies were performed in C57BL/6 mice. Transfection efficiency was investigated in A549 cell line.

Results: HBsAg-adsorbed NPs generated strong anti-HBsAg IgG titers, mainly of IgG1 isotype, and induced antigen-specific IFN-γ and IL-17 secretion by spleen cells. The addition of pRC/CMV-HBs to the HBsAg-adsorbed NPs inhibited IL-17 secretion but had minor effect on IFN-γ levels. Lastly, pRC/CMV-HBs-loaded NPs generated a weak serum antibody response.

Conclusion: Poly-ϵ-caprolactone/chitosan NPs provide a strong humoral adjuvant effect for HBsAg and induce a Th1/Th17-mediated cellular immune responses worth explore for hepatitis B virus vaccination.

Keywords: HBsAg; hepatitis B; pDNA vaccine; poly-ϵ-caprolactone (PCL)/chitosan nanoparticles; vaccine adjuvants.

MeSH terms

  • A549 Cells
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / chemistry
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / pharmacology*
  • Administration, Intranasal
  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation
  • Chemistry, Pharmaceutical
  • Chitosan / chemistry*
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry
  • Female
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Interleukin-17 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Particle Size
  • Polyesters / chemistry*
  • Spleen / metabolism
  • Surface Properties
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Drug Carriers
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Interleukin-17
  • Polyesters
  • polycaprolactone
  • Chitosan