AnIn vivostudy: Adjuvant activity of poly-n-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone-co-acrylic acid on immune responses against Melanoma synthetic peptide

Abstract

Peptides have been studied as an important class of components in medicine to control many major diseases with vaccination. Polymers as adjuvants are capable of enhancing the vaccine potential against various diseases by improving the delivery of antigens, and they reduce the booster doses of vaccines. In brief, polymers are promising candidates for peptide-based vaccine delivery platforms. The purpose of the present study was to create a possible alternative approach in the treatment of malignant melanoma and/or to prevent metastasis of melanoma. The study was designed as both an experimental and an in vivo study. We prepared a complex and covalent conjugate of MAGE-3 121–134 (L-L-K-Y-R-A-R-E-P-V-T-K-A-E) T-cell epitope as a vaccine candidate for melanoma. These conjugates were able to generate an immune response in mice after a single immunization, without the help of any external adjuvant. The peptide-polymer complexes activated the immune system in the best way and formed the highest antigen specific immune response. These results indicate the adjuvant activity of Poly(N-vinyl-2- pyrrolidone-co-acrylic acid) [P(VP-co-AA)] and the potential use of P(VP-coAA)-peptide based vaccine prototypes for future melanoma cancer vaccine formulations.

New Generation Peptide-Based Vaccine Prototype

“…The emulsion solvent evaporation technique is known as the most successful and useful method in the preparation of peptide loaded NPs and this technique is studied under two groups as single and double emulsion solvent evaporation methods [35].…”

“…Peptides conjugates biopolymers can be synthesized in organic media using microwave energy. Also, there are another methods, including complex formation of biopolymers and peptides and electrostatic complex formation and metal coordination via ion coordination [35]. Specific antibody titers were observed in mouse experiments against peptides containing polymeric conjugates and complexes.…”

Synthesis and Applications of Synthetic Peptides

“…Polymers to be selected in peptide-polymer conjugates, should be biocompatible, be relatively easy to synthesize and be modifiable according to the recommended use. This situation is pointed out that such polymers are important carrier candidates for peptide vaccines [61][62][63].…”

In Vitro Assessment of Poly-N-Vinylpyrrolidone/Acrylic Acid Nanoparticles Biocompatibility in a Microvascular Endothelium Model

“…Moreover, in hepatoma and normal keratinocyte, HaCaT cells, the extracts of EGDMA-linked p(VP-AA) hydrogels were shown to be non-toxic at high concentrations [ 17 ]. Furthermore, in a mouse melanoma model, p(VP-AA) copolymers linked to peptide-based vaccine prototypes exhibited a potent immune-stimulating effect indicating that they can be utilized as an adjuvant for the immunological system [ 21 ]. Indeed, they may improve the vaccine potential of antigens by facilitating their delivery and reducing the booster doses of vaccines [ 21 ].…”