Alpha-D-glucan nanoparticulate adjuvant induces a transient inflammatory response at the injection site and targets antigen to migratory dendritic cells

Abstract

Adjuvants: Discovering the next generation of vaccine boosters A plant-derived nanoparticle boosts the immune system’s response to foreign stimuli, such as vaccines, through newly discovered mechanisms. Harm HogenEsch and his team from Purdue University, USA, previously discovered that their formulated nanoparticle adjuvant, Nano-11, increased immune responses to stimuli in mice. Adjuvants are formulations often co-administered with vaccines to promote interaction with the host’s immune system, conferring greater protection. In this study, the scientists found that Nano-11 functions by inducing a temporary inflammation, attracting immune cells to the injection site. The nanoparticles also facilitate the transport of the stimuli to the lymph nodes. Nano-11 is metabolized without deposition in any major internal organs, suggesting a positive safety profile. As current aluminum-based adjuvants are sometimes poorly effective and can cause local adverse reactions, nanoparticle-based potentiators such as Nano-11 may form the next generation of adjuvants.