Macrophage membrane-coated Eucommia ulmoides polysaccharides-loaded PLGA nanoparticles as an effective antigen-targeted delivery system

Abstract

Polysaccharides derived from Eucommia ulmoides leaves have immune-regulating, hypoglycemic, anti-tumor, and other beneficial functions. As a drug delivery system, polylactic-glycolic acid copolymer (PLGA) offers advantages like immunogenicity enhancement, improved drug absorption, and increased drug bioavailability. Currently, macrophage membranes are successfully employed in biomimetic nanomaterials to enhance drug utilization and extend drug administration time in the body, exhibiting good immunogenicity and organ targeting. In this study, we developed biomimetic PsEUL PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) coated with macrophage membrane (MM-PPsEUL) and examined their immune activity in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, MM-PPsEUL increased the phagocytic efficiency of macrophages without affecting their activity. In vivo, MM-PPsEUL significantly elevated the immune organ index of mice and upregulated the level of ovalbumin-specific IgG antibodies in serum. Simultaneously, it increased the expressions of cytokines IFN-γ and IL-4, as well as the levels of TLR4, MyD88, TRAF6, and NF-κB p65 proteins in mice spleen. MM-PPsEUL also exhibited a targeting effect on inguinal lymph nodes and slowed down the release rate of antigens, thereby inducing a prolonged immune response. In summary, MM-PPsEUL provides sustained release capabilities and can induce both humoral and cellular immune responses. This makes MM-PPsEUL NPs a promising antigen-targeted delivery system.