Biodegradable Nanoparticles for Antigen Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current particulate carriers for immunological responses have limitations in terms of size distribution, biodegradability, and efficiency in delivering pharmaceuticals, particularly in eliciting adaptive and innate immune responses effectively.
Innovation Solution
Nanoparticle compositions comprising biodegradable polymers and pharmaceuticals, such as antigens, are developed, with specific size distributions and methods for production that ensure high encapsulation efficiency and stability, allowing for effective immune response stimulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If microparticles are used as carriers, then antigen presentation and immune response stimulation are enhanced, but particle size is too large for optimal lymph node trapping and retention
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the antigen delivery system into nanoparticles with specific size ranges (10-200 nm diameter) that can effectively traverse biological barriers and be trapped in lymph nodes, compared to larger microparticles. This segmentation allows optimal penetration and retention in target tissues while maintaining immunogenicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the critical parameter of particle size from micrometer scale to nanometer scale, specifically optimizing the diameter to 10-200 nm. This parameter change enables the particles to be efficiently trapped in lymph nodes while maintaining adequate antigen loading and immunogenicity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If biodegradable polymers are used for nanoparticle formation, then biocompatibility and safety are improved, but manufacturing precision and size control become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses preliminary action by pre-forming nanoparticles with controlled sizes using nanoprecipitation methods before antigen adsorption, ensuring size control is established early in the manufacturing process. This allows subsequent steps to maintain the optimized size range while adding functional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite materials by combining biodegradable polymers (such as PLGA, PLA, or PCL) with surfactants and antigens to form stable nanoparticles. The composite structure maintains biocompatibility while the carefully selected polymer-surfactant-antigen combination enables controlled size and enhanced stability.
3Quantity of substance
If nanoprecipitation method is used for nanoparticle creation, then encapsulation efficiency is improved, but process complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the core nanoparticle formation step from complex multi-step processes by using nanoprecipitation, which forms nanoparticles in a single precipitation event. This extraction simplifies the overall manufacturing process while maintaining high encapsulation efficiency of the antigen within the nanoparticle structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The nanoprecipitation process utilizes self-service by allowing nanoparticles to form spontaneously through the precipitation of polymer and antigen from solution, without requiring complex external equipment or multi-step assembly procedures. The system self-organizes into nanoparticles with high encapsulation efficiency through controlled precipitation conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The nanoparticle compositions achieve high encapsulation efficiency and effective immune response stimulation, including both adaptive and innate immune responses, with improved delivery methods that enhance the therapeutic and prophylactic potential.
Implementation Method 1
particulate carriers have been used with adsorbed or entrapped antigens
Implementation Method 2
particulate carriers have been used with adsorbed or entrapped antigens
Implementation Method 3
The particles can be phagocytosed by macrophages
Implementation Method 4
can enhance antigen presentation through cytokine release
Data Source
AI summary
In various aspects of the present invention, nanoparticle compositions are provided which comprise (a) nanoparticles comprising at least one biodegradable polymer and (b) at least one pharmaceutical associated with the nanoparticles. In other aspects of the present invention, methods of forming nanoparticles compositions are provided, which comprise contacting a first liquid that comprises one or more biodegradable polymers dissolved in a first solvent with a second liquid that comprises a second solvent which is miscible with the first solvent while being a non-solvent for the one or more biodegradable polymers, such that nanoparticles are formed.