Project

NMR and molecular modelling investigations of hydroxyl apatite – DNA immunestimulator nanoplatforms for improved vaccine delivery

Acronym
1525517N
Code
31525517W
Duration
01 January 2017 → 31 December 2019
Funding
Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO)
Research disciplines
  • Natural sciences
    • Other biological sciences
    • Other natural sciences
Keywords
vaccine
 
Project description

There is an urgent need for safe vaccines against many dangerous diseases; however, avoiding side effects is a major prerequisite in ensuring patient compliance. To address this, new generation vaccines with safe but weakly immunogenic antigens are formulated together with carriers and/or adjuvants to induce the desired immunological response. The use of nanoparticles as carriers for vaccines, also known as nanovaccinology, is a promising new area, which requires further understanding and development. Inorganic particles, such as hydroxy apatite (HAP), have shown potential as carriers. HAP is the inorganic constituent of bones and teeth and as a result it is extremely biocompatible. DNA immunestimulators of bacterial origin are one of the most promising potential adjuvants. In this project we combine HAP nanoparticles with DNA immunestimulators in a drug delivery system and explore the interactions and surface properties of the resulting vaccine nanoplatform at the molecular level using solution state NMR spectroscopy and molecular modelling. These findings will provide an increased understanding of the structural features of DNA immunestimulators and their interactions with HAP carriers and thus will enable rational design of drug delivery platforms.