Antigen/Adjuvant-Displaying Enveloped Viral Replica as a Self-Adjuvanting Anti-Breast-Cancer Vaccine Candidate

J Am Chem Soc. 2023 Jul 26;145(29):15838-15847. doi: 10.1021/jacs.3c02679. Epub 2023 Jun 21.

Abstract

We report a promising cancer vaccine candidate comprising antigen/adjuvant-displaying enveloped viral replica as a novel vaccine platform. The artificial viral capsid, which consists of a self-assembled β-annulus peptide conjugated with an HER2-derived antigenic CH401 peptide, was enveloped within a lipid bilayer containing the lipidic adjuvant α-GalCer. The use of an artificial viral capsid as a scaffold enabled precise control of its size to ∼100 nm, which is generally considered to be optimal for delivery to lymph nodes. The encapsulation of the anionically charged capsid by a cationic lipid bilayer dramatically improved its stability and converted its surface charge to cationic, enhancing its uptake by dendritic cells. The developed CH401/α-GalCer-displaying enveloped viral replica exhibited remarkable antibody-production activity. This study represents a pioneering example of precise vaccine design through bottom-up construction and opens new avenues for the development of effective vaccines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antigens
  • Cancer Vaccines*
  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Neoplasms*
  • Peptides

Substances

  • Cancer Vaccines
  • alpha-galactosylceramide
  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Antigens
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Peptides