Abstract
Nanotechnology-based vaccine development necessitates understanding the crucial biophysical properties of nanostructures that alter immune responses. In this study, we demonstrate the synergistic effect of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) shapes with toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists in immune modulation activity. Our results showed that CpG- and imidazoquinoline-conjugated rod-shaped AuNPs display relatively fast uptake by bone marrow-derived macrophage cells but exhibit poor immunogenic responses compared to their spherical and star-shaped AuNP counterparts. Surprisingly, star-shaped AuNPs exhibited intense pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. Further mechanistic studies showed that star-shaped AuNPs were abundantly localized in the late endosome and lysosomal regions, whereas rod-shaped AuNPs were majorly sequestered in the mitochondrial region. These findings reveal that the shape of the nanostructures plays a pivotal role in driving the adjuvant molecules toward their receptors and altering immune responses.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.