Multilayer Polyelectrolyte Films for RSV Epitope Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current RSV vaccines are ineffective and can even exacerbate disease due to inappropriate immune responses, and there is a need for improved antigenic compositions that stimulate a durable immune response against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) without causing harmful side effects.

Innovation Solution

Development of multilayer polyelectrolyte films containing RSV-M2 and RSV-G protein epitopes, deposited on core microparticles or nanoparticles, which elicit both antibody and T-cell responses by combining oppositely charged polyelectrolytes and designed polypeptides with sufficient charge for stable binding, enhancing immune potency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If formalin-inactivated alum-precipitated RSV (FI-RSV) vaccine is used, then immune response is stimulated, but severe disease and death occur due to Th2-dominant inflammatory response

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevaccine safetyVSAvoidinflammatory Th2-dominant response
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the immune response parameters by using epitope-based vaccines that specifically target T-cell and antibody responses rather than the broad, uncontrolled Th2 response induced by traditional FI-RSV vaccines. This parameter change in the immune response profile eliminates the harmful inflammatory effects while maintaining protective immunity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the essential protective epitopes (M2 and G protein epitopes) from the complete RSV virus, eliminating the harmful components that trigger Th2-dominant responses. By using minimal antigenic components (epitopes rather than whole virus), the vaccine maintains immunogenicity while removing the source of harmful inflammation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Duration of action of moving object

If natural RSV infection occurs, then immune response is generated, but durable long-term immunity is not achieved and re-infection occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveduration of immune responseVSAvoidprotection against re-infection
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by presenting multiple epitopes from different RSV proteins (M2 and G) simultaneously in a controlled vaccine formulation before natural infection occurs. This pre-exposure to diverse epitopes primes the immune system to generate durable, broad-acting immunity that prevents re-infection, unlike natural infection which provides only transient protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If multilayer polyelectrolyte films with multiple epitopes are used, then immune potency is enhanced, but composition complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmune response efficacyVSAvoidcomposition structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the nested doll principle by organizing epitopes within a hierarchical structure: epitopes are embedded in polypeptides, which are incorporated into polyelectrolyte complexes, which form multilayer films. This nested organization allows multiple functional components to be integrated in a systematic way, enhancing immune potency while maintaining compositional clarity and manufacturability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 multilayer film composition significantly improves T-cell responses and elicits a robust immune response against RSV, providing protection from infection by incorporating both antibody and T-cell epitopes, potentially leading to a safer and more effective vaccine.

Implementation Method 1

said multilayer film comprises two or more layers of polyelectrolytes, wherein adjacent layers comprise oppositely charged polyelectrolytes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic interaction: Electrostatics

Implementation Method 2

a designed polypeptide is a polypeptide consisting of one or more charged surface absorption regions of at least 8 amino acids covalently linked to the RSV-M2 protein epitope, the RSV-G protein epitope, or both, having sufficient charge for stable binding to an oppositely charged surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic binding: Electrostatics

Data Source

PatentEP2590675B1Respiratory syncytial virus antigenic compositions and methods
Publication Date: 2018.08.29 ARTIFICAL CELL TECH INC
  • EP2590675B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2590675B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2590675B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Multilayer films comprise polypeptide epitopes from RSV. The multilayer films are capable of eliciting an immune response in a host upon administration to the host. The multilayer films include at least one designed peptide that includes one or more polypeptide epitopes from RSV. Specifically, the multilayer films include two polypeptide epitopes from RSV, such as an epitope that elicits a specific T-cell response such as a cytotoxic T-cell response, and an epitope that elicits a specific antibody response.