Design of Gold Nanoparticles in Dendritic Cell‐Based Vaccines

Abstract

The ORCID identification number(s) for the author(s) of this article can be found under https://doi.org/10.1002/ppsc.201800109.The design of effective cancer vaccines must be able to activate dendritic cells (DCs) of the innate immune system in order to induce immunity to pathogens and cancer. DCs patrol the body and once they encounter antigens, they orchestrate a complex mechanism of events and signals that can alert the adaptive immune system to action. However, DC-based vaccines remain a challenge in part because the source and quality of antigens, the DC targeting molecule, type of adjuvant, and delivery vehicle must be optimized to induce a robust immune response. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have now entered clinical trials as carriers due to their ease of functionalization with antigens, adjuvants, and targeting molecules. This progress report discusses how AuNPs can influence DC activation and maturation, as well as their potential impact on T helper (Th) differentiation. Ultimately, successful AuNP-based DC vaccines are able to induce phagocytosis, activation/maturation, migration, T cell costimulation, and cytokine secretion, which is named AuNP-induced DC tuning (AuNP-DC tuning). Although at its infancy, understanding the processes of AuNP-DC tuning will give a better understanding of how best to engineer AuNPs and will redefine the next generation of DC-based vaccines.

Gold nanorods enhance different immune cells and allow for efficient targeting of CD4+ Foxp3+ Tregulatory cells

“…It is thought that AuNPs interact with cell surface receptors, which in turns induce the production of cytokines [ 52 ]. This implies that there is some specificity in receptor-mediated internalization of gold nanoparticles.…”

Dendritic cell biocompatibility of ether‐based urethane films

“…However, the JAWSII DCs were found previously to be a sensitive system and react when exposed to other systems, such as nanomaterials. In our earlier studies, we have presented that graphene and plasmonic nanovectors (PNV formed of polyethylene glycol–coated gold/silver nanorods) were found to upregulate the surface expression of DC activation markers (Dings, Cannon, & Vang, 2018; Nima et al, 2019; Vang et al, 2017). Our findings therefore indicate that the DCs are sensitive to various exposure agents and could therefore point to the fact that the PU scaffolds evaluated as part of this study have low stimulatory ability to induce DC activation and maturation.…”

Design and Encapsulation of Immunomodulators onto Gold Nanoparticles in Cancer Immunotherapy

“…Dendritic cell maturation and lymphocyte proliferation were also enhanced by GNPs loaded with tumor antigens [ 155 ]. Adjuvant activity on dendritic cells or GNP-induced dendritic cell tuning occurs when effective vaccinations relying on dendritic cells and GNPs may induce phagocytosis, migration, maturation, T cell co-stimulation, and cytokine release [ 156 ].…”