Gold Nanoparticle Virus-like Particles Presenting SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein: Synthesis, Biophysical Properties and Immunogenicity in BALB/c Mice
Vivian A. Salazar,
Joan Comenge,
Rosa Suárez-López,
Judith A. Burger,
Rogier W. Sanders,
Neus G. Bastús,
Carlos Jaime,
Joan Joseph-Munne,
Victor Puntes
Affiliations
Vivian A. Salazar
Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Joan Comenge
Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Rosa Suárez-López
Departament de Química, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
Judith A. Burger
Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Rogier W. Sanders
Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Neus G. Bastús
Networking Research Centre for Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
Carlos Jaime
Departament de Química, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
Joan Joseph-Munne
Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Victor Puntes
Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) decorated with antigens have recently emerged as promising tools for vaccine development due to their innate ability to provide stability to antigens and modulate immune responses. In this study, we have engineered deactivated virus-like particles (VLPs) by precisely functionalizing gold cores with coronas comprising the full SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S). Using BALB/c mice as a model, we investigated the immunogenicity of these S-AuNPs-VLPs. Our results demonstrate that S-AuNPs-VLPs consistently enhanced antigen-specific antibody responses compared to the S protein free in solution. This enhancement included higher binding antibody titers, higher neutralizing capacity of antibodies, and stronger T-cell responses. Compared to the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, where the S protein is synthesized in situ, S-AuNPs-VLPs induced comparable binding and neutralizing antibody responses, but substantially superior T-cell responses. In conclusion, our study highlights the potential of conjugated AuNPs as an effective antigen-delivery system for protein-based vaccines targeting a broad spectrum of infectious diseases and other emergent viruses.
