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Neek M, Tucker JA, Kim TI, Molino NM, Nelson EL, Wang SW. Co-delivery of human cancer-testis antigens with adjuvant in protein nanoparticles induces higher cell-mediated immune responses. Biomaterials 2017; 156:194-203. [PMID: 29202325 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Nanoparticles have attracted considerable interest as cancer vaccine delivery vehicles for inducing sufficient CD8+ T cell-mediated immune responses to overcome the low immunogenicity of the tumor microenvironment. Our studies described here are the first to examine the effects of clinically-tested human cancer-testis (CT) peptide epitopes within a synthetic nanoparticle. Specifically, we focused on two significant clinical CT targets, the HLA-A2 restricted epitopes of NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-A3, using a viral-mimetic packaging strategy. Our data shows that simultaneous delivery of a NY-ESO-1 epitope (SLLMWITQV) and CpG using the E2 subunit assembly of pyruvate dehydrogenase (E2 nanoparticle), resulted in a 25-fold increase in specific IFN-γ secretion in HLA-A2 transgenic mice. This translated to a 15-fold increase in lytic activity toward target cancer cells expressing the antigen. Immunization with a MAGE-A3 epitope (FLWGPRALV) delivered with CpG in E2 nanoparticles yielded an increase in specific IFN-γ secretion and cell lysis by 6-fold and 9-fold, respectively. Furthermore, combined delivery of NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-A3 antigens in E2 nanoparticles yielded an additive effect that increased lytic activity towards cells bearing NY-ESO-1+ and MAGE-A3+. Our investigations demonstrate that formulation of CT antigens within a nanoparticle can significantly enhance antigen-specific cell-mediated responses, and the combination of the two antigens in a vaccine can preserve the increased individual responses that are observed for each antigen alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Medea Neek
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Jo Anne Tucker
- Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Tae Il Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Nicholas M Molino
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Edward L Nelson
- Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Szu-Wen Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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Abstract
Efficient delivery of antigens is of paramount concern in immunotherapies. We aimed to target antigen presenting cells (APCs) by conjugating CpG oligonucleotides to an E2 protein nanoparticle surface (CpG-PEG-E2). Compared to E2 alone, we observed ~4-fold increase of in vitro APC uptake of both CpG-PEG-E2 and E2 conjugated to non-CpG DNA. Furthermore, compared to E2-alone or E2 functionalized solely with polyethylene glycol (PEG), the CpG-PEG-E2 showed enhanced lymph node retention up to at least 48 hr and 2-fold increase in APC uptake in vivo, parameters which are advantageous for vaccine success. This suggests that enhanced APC uptake of nanoparticles mediated by oligonucleotide display may help overcome delivery barriers in vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas M Molino
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
| | - Medea Neek
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
| | - Jo Anne Tucker
- Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
| | - Edward L Nelson
- Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA.,Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA.,Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
| | - Szu-Wen Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA.,Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
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Molino NM, Neek M, Tucker JA, Nelson EL, Wang SW. Viral-mimicking protein nanoparticle vaccine for eliciting anti-tumor responses. Biomaterials 2016; 86:83-91. [PMID: 26894870 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2016.01.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The immune system is a powerful resource for the eradication of cancer, but to overcome the low immunogenicity of tumor cells, a sufficiently strong CD8(+) T cell-mediated adaptive immune response is required. Nanoparticulate biomaterials represent a potentially effective delivery system for cancer vaccines, as they can be designed to mimic viruses, which are potent inducers of cellular immunity. We have been exploring the non-viral pyruvate dehydrogenase E2 protein nanoparticle as a biomimetic platform for cancer vaccine delivery. Simultaneous conjugation of a melanoma-associated gp100 epitope and CpG to the E2 nanoparticle (CpG-gp-E2) yielded an antigen-specific increase in the CD8(+) T cell proliferation index and IFN-γ secretion by 1.5-fold and 5-fold, respectively, compared to an unbound peptide and CpG formulation. Remarkably, a single nanoparticle immunization resulted in a 120-fold increase in the frequency of melanoma epitope-specific CD8(+) T cells in draining lymph nodes and a 30-fold increase in the spleen, relative to free peptide with free CpG. Furthermore, in the very aggressive B16 melanoma murine tumor model, prophylactic immunization with CpG-gp-E2 delayed the onset of tumor growth by approximately 5.5 days and increased animal survival time by approximately 40%, compared to PBS-treated animals. These results show that by combining optimal particle size and simultaneous co-delivery of molecular vaccine components, antigen-specific anti-tumor immune responses can be significantly increased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas M Molino
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Medea Neek
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Jo Anne Tucker
- Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Edward L Nelson
- Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Szu-Wen Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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Abstract
A new strategy was developed to create multi-functionalizaton of protein nanoparticles using Sortase A-mediated ligation, resulting in modified protein nanoparticles that are both thermally responsive and catalytic active.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Chen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- University of Delaware
- Newark
- USA
| | - Qing Sun
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- University of Delaware
- Newark
- USA
| | - Nicholas M. Molino
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
- University of California
- Irvine
- USA
| | - Szu-Wen Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
- University of California
- Irvine
- USA
| | - Eric T. Boder
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- University of Tennessee
- Knoxville
- USA
| | - Wilfred Chen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- University of Delaware
- Newark
- USA
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Abstract
Caged protein nanoparticles possess many desirable features for drug delivery, such as ideal sizes for endocytosis, non-toxic biodegradability, and the ability to functionalize at three distinct interfaces (external, internal, and inter-subunit) using the tools of protein engineering. Researchers have harnessed these attributes by covalently and non-covalently loading therapeutic molecules through mechanisms that facilitate release within specific microenvironments. Effective delivery depends on several factors, including specific targeting, cell uptake, release kinetics, and systemic clearance. The innate ability of the immune system to recognize and respond to proteins has recently been exploited to deliver therapeutic compounds with these platforms for immunomodulation. The diversity of drugs, loading/release mechanisms, therapeutic targets, and therapeutic efficacy are discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas M Molino
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, 916 Engineering Tower, Irvine, CA 92697-2575, United States
| | - Szu-Wen Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, 916 Engineering Tower, Irvine, CA 92697-2575, United States.
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Molino NM, Anderson AKL, Nelson EL, Wang SW. Biomimetic protein nanoparticles facilitate enhanced dendritic cell activation and cross-presentation. ACS Nano 2013; 7:9743-52. [PMID: 24090491 PMCID: PMC3893022 DOI: 10.1021/nn403085w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Many current cancer vaccine strategies suffer from the inability to mount a CD8 T cell response that is strong enough to overcome the low immunogenicity of tumors. Viruses naturally possess the sizes, geometries, and physical properties for which the immune system has evolved to recognize, and mimicking those properties with nanoparticles can produce robust platforms for vaccine design. Using the nonviral E2 core of pyruvate dehydrogenase, we have engineered a viral-mimicking vaccine platform capable of encapsulating dendritic cell (DC)-activating CpG molecules in an acid-releasable manner and displaying MHC I-restricted SIINFEKL peptide epitopes. Encapsulated CpG activated bone marrow-derived DCs at a 25-fold lower concentration in vitro when delivered with the E2 nanoparticle than with unbound CpG alone. Combining CpG and SIINFEKL within a single multifunctional particle induced ∼3-fold greater SIINFEKL display on MHC I by DCs over unbound peptide. Importantly, combining CpG and SIINFEKL to the E2 nanoparticle for simultaneous temporal and spatial delivery to DCs showed increased and prolonged CD8 T cell activation, relative to free peptide or peptide-bound E2. By codelivering peptide epitopes and CpG activator in a particle of optimal DC-uptake size, we demonstrate the ability of a noninfectious protein nanoparticle to mimic viral properties and facilitate enhanced DC activation and cross-presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas M. Molino
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, 916 Engineering Tower, Irvine, CA 92697-2575
| | | | | | - Szu-Wen Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, 916 Engineering Tower, Irvine, CA 92697-2575
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Molino NM, Bilotkach K, Fraser DA, Ren D, Wang SW. Complement activation and cell uptake responses toward polymer-functionalized protein nanocapsules. Biomacromolecules 2012; 13:974-81. [PMID: 22416762 DOI: 10.1021/bm300083e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Self-assembling protein nanocapsules can be engineered for various bionanotechnology applications. Using the dodecahedral scaffold of the E2 subunit from pyruvate dehydrogenase, we introduced non-native surface cysteines for site-directed functionalization. The modified nanoparticle's structural, assembly, and thermostability properties were comparable to the wild-type scaffold (E2-WT), and after conjugation of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to these cysteines, the nanoparticle remained intact and stable up to 79.7 ± 1.8 °C. PEGylation of particles reduced uptake by human monocyte-derived macrophages and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, with decreased uptake as PEG chain length is increased. In vitro C4-depletion and C5a-production assays yielded 97.6 ± 10.8% serum C4 remaining and 40.1 ± 6.0 ng/mL C5a for E2-WT, demonstrating that complement activation is weak for non-PEGylated E2 nanoparticles. Conjugation of PEG to these particles moderately increased complement response to give 79.7 ± 6.0% C4 remaining and 87.6 ± 10.1 ng/mL C5a. Our results demonstrate that PEGylation of the E2 protein nanocapsules can modulate cellular uptake and induce low levels of complement activation, likely via the classical/lectin pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas M Molino
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-2575, United States
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