Immunogenic Microparticle Surfactant Encapsulation for Vaccine Efficacy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current immunogenic compositions using microparticles for antigen delivery have limited immune-activating capacity and require high doses, with conventional adjuvants like aluminum hydroxide being insufficient and causing side effects, and existing microparticle technologies struggle to efficiently encapsulate hydrophilic antigens while maintaining their structure.

Innovation Solution

An immunogenic composition comprising an antigen-adjuvant microparticle complex where the antigen is encapsulated in an amphiphilic polymer microparticle with a polysaccharide hydrophilic segment and a surfactant, specifically using poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and dextran, and incorporating a surfactant like polysorbate 80 to enhance immune activation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional adjuvants like aluminum hydroxide are used, then safety for human administration is improved, but immune-activating capacity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveside effectsVSAvoidimmune-activating capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite microparticle system combining PLGA (poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)) as the base polymer with surface-modified surfactants (such as polysorbate 80, sorbitan monooleate, or polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil). This composite structure integrates the biocompatibility of PLGA with the immune-enhancing properties of the surfactant coating, achieving both safety for human administration and high immune-activating capacity. The surfactant-modified surface creates a more immunogenic interface while maintaining the biodegradable and safe core material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If microparticle encapsulation is used to enhance immune response, then adjuvant function is improved, but antigen encapsulation efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjuvant functionVSAvoidantigen encapsulation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the physical and chemical parameters of the microparticle system, specifically controlling particle size (1-10 μm), surfactant concentration (0.1-10% w/v), and polymer molecular weight. These parameter adjustments create optimal conditions for both antigen encapsulation and adjuvant function. The surfactant modification changes the surface properties to enhance antigen loading while maintaining the microparticle's ability to activate the immune system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies local quality modification by coating only the surface of the microparticles with surfactants rather than modifying the entire bulk material. This creates a dual-function system where the core PLGA material provides structural integrity and controlled release, while the surface surfactant layer provides enhanced antigen encapsulation and immune activation. This localized modification resolves the contradiction between encapsulation efficiency and adjuvant function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If high molecular weight protein encapsulation is improved, then antigen structure maintenance is improved, but adjuvant mechanism understanding deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantigen structure maintenanceVSAvoidadjuvant mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The surfactant acts as an intermediary between the antigen and the immune system. It facilitates antigen encapsulation within the microparticle while also serving as a bridge to enhance immune cell recognition and uptake. This intermediary role allows the system to maintain antigen structure (through gentle encapsulation) while simultaneously providing the immune activation function, making the overall mechanism more detectable and measurable through surfactant-antigen-immune cell interactions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 achieves stronger immune activation with a smaller antigen amount and fewer doses, providing sustained immune response and improved antigen encapsulation efficiency, surpassing the limitations of existing adjuvants and microparticle technologies.

Implementation Method 1

an antigen(s) is/are encapsulated in an adjuvant microparticle composed of an amphiphilic polymer(s)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAmphiphilic polymer encapsulation: Amphiphiles

Implementation Method 2

an amphiphilic polymer(s) whose hydrophobic segment(s) is/are are poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and whose hydrophilic segment is a polysaccharide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobic-hydrophilic interaction: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 3

a surfactant, the surfactant being encapsulated in the immunogenic microparticle and comprising a fatty acid ester structure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurfactant action: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentEP2609931B1Immunogenic composition
Publication Date: 2020.09.16 TORAY INDUSTRIES INC
  • EP2609931B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2609931B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2609931B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An immunogenic composition comprising, as effective ingredients: an immunogenic microparticle composed of an antigen-adjuvant microparticle complex wherein an antigen(s) is/are encapsulated in an adjuvant microparticle composed of an amphiphilic polymer(s) whose hydrophobic segment(s) is/are poly(hydroxy acid); and a surfactant; the surfactant being encapsulated in the immunogenic microparticle, has a high immune-activating capacity in a living body even with a small antigen amount and/or a small number of doses.