Dual-Phase Emulsion for Stable Antigen Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current immunogenic compositions face challenges in enhancing immune responses, stability during storage, and ease of preparation, particularly in co-administering vectorized antigens and immunostimulating agents, with issues related to antigen leakage and particle size affecting their efficacy.

Innovation Solution

An immunogenic composition comprising a continuous aqueous phase and two dispersed phases of droplets, where one phase contains an antigen covalently linked to surfactant-carrying droplets and the other phase includes an immunostimulating agent, specifically designed to enhance immune responses and stability, with controlled particle size for improved cellular capture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If antigens are co-administered with immunostimulating agents to enhance immunogenicity, then immune response is improved, but preparation complexity and stability control become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmune response enhancementVSAvoidpreparation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the immunogenic composition into two distinct dispersed phases: phase 1 containing the antigen vectorized on surfactant-carrying droplets, and phase 2 containing the immunostimulating agent in separate droplets. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining stability and enhancing immune response when co-administered.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite emulsion system combining lipid-based droplets carrying antigens with separate droplets carrying immunostimulating agents. This composite structure integrates multiple functional components (amphiphilic lipids, solubilizing lipids, co-surfactants, and immunostimulating agents) into a single stable formulation that enhances immunogenicity while controlling preparation complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If polymeric nanoparticles are used to vectorize antigens, then immune response is enhanced, but antigen leakage occurs and storage stability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmune response enhancementVSAvoidstorage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the material parameter from polymeric nanoparticles to lipid-based droplets with specific surfactant compositions. This parameter change maintains the ability to vectorize antigens and enhance immune response while significantly improving storage stability and preventing antigen leakage, as lipids provide a more stable matrix for antigen encapsulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses surfactant-carrying lipid droplets that form flexible yet stable interfaces around the antigen. The surfactant layer acts as a protective thin film that prevents antigen leakage while allowing controlled interaction with immune cells, thereby maintaining storage stability without compromising immune response enhancement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If particle size is reduced to improve cellular capture, then immune response is enhanced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecellular capture efficiencyVSAvoidparticle size control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs dynamic emulsification processes that allow controlled formation of droplets with optimized size distribution. The use of amphiphilic lipids and co-surfactants creates dynamic interfaces that facilitate uniform droplet formation at optimal sizes for cellular capture, balancing manufacturing feasibility with immune response enhancement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 composition significantly amplifies immune responses, is stable during storage, and can be easily prepared for industrial use, facilitating the production of antibodies and vaccines by effectively targeting immune cells.

Implementation Method 1

An immunogenic composition in the form of an emulsion comprising a continuous aqueous phase, a first lipid phase dispersed in the form of droplets and comprising an antigen covalently linked to said droplets, and a second dispersed phase comprising an immunostimulating agent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEmulsion: Emulsion

Implementation Method 2

a first lipid phase dispersed in the form of droplets and comprising an antigen covalently linked to said droplets

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCovalent bonding: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP3377114B1Immunogenic composition in the form of an emulsion comprising two dispersed phases, one comprising an antigen and the other comprising an immunostimulating agent
Publication Date: 2020.07.08 COMMISSARIAT A LENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
  • EP3377114B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3377114B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3377114B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The application relates to an immunogenic composition comprising a continuous aqueous phase and at least two dispersed phases 1 and 2 in the form of droplets, wherein the dispersed phase 1 comprises a surfactant 1 carrying an antigen and the dispersed phase 2 comprises an immunostimulating agent 2, to the process for preparing the same and to the uses thereof, in particular for preparing antibodies, as a medicament, or a vaccine, or in an immunization method.