Journal
ACS NANO
Volume 15, Issue 10, Pages 15754-15770Publisher
AMER CHEMICAL SOC
DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c01243
Keywords
ACM; polymersome; Covid-19; spike; vaccine; neutralizing antibody
Categories
Funding
- IAF-ICP, A*STAR grant
- NHIC Gap Funding Award [NHIC-COV19-2005008]
- NUHS Research Office [NUHSRO/2020/033/RO5+5/CORONAVIRUS/LOA (WBS R-571-000-071-733)]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This study describes a subunit vaccine based on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein coadministered with CpG adjuvant, encapsulated with a proprietary artificial cell membrane (ACM) polymersome technology to enhance immunogenicity. In mice experiments, two doses of this formulation elicited robust neutralizing antibody titers that persisted for at least 40 days and produced functional memory CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells.
Multiple successful vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are urgently needed to address the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. In the present work, we describe a subunit vaccine based on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein coadministered with CpG adjuvant. To enhance the immunogenicity of our formulation, both antigen and adjuvant were encapsulated with our proprietary artificial cell membrane (ACM) polymersome technology. Structurally, ACM polymersomes are self-assembling nanoscale vesicles made up of an amphiphilic block copolymer comprising poly(butadiene)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) and a cationic lipid, 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane. Functionally, ACM polymersomes serve as delivery vehicles that are efficiently taken up by dendritic cells (DC1 and DC2), which are key initiators of the adaptive immune response. Two doses of our formulation elicit robust neutralizing antibody titers in C57BL/6 mice that persist at least 40 days. Furthermore, we confirm the presence of functional memory CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells that produce T helper type 1 cytokines. This study is an important step toward the development of an efficacious vaccine in humans.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available