Combination of immune stimulating adjuvants with poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres enhances the immune response of vaccines

Abstract

The development of vaccines that generate mixed humoral and cellular immune responses is a challenge in vaccinology. Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres are vaccine adjuvants which possess the advantage of allowing the coencapsulation of other adjuvants in addition to the antigen. Thus, we can stimulate the immune system from different ways and resemble the effects of a natural infection. In this study, we have coencapsulated BSA with monophosphoryl lipid A, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid, α-galactosylceramide and alginate into PLGA microspheres. All the microspheres have developed a higher humoral immune response, in terms of release of total IgG, in comparison to the administration of soluble antigen. In addition, they triggered a more balanced IgG1/IgG2a response. The combination of MPLA and α-galactosylceramide within the microspheres developed the higher cellular response, confirming that combination of adjuvants with different action mechanisms is a good strategy to increase vaccines' immunogenicity.