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Caringal RT, Hickey JM, Sharma N, Jerajani K, Bewaji O, Brendle S, Christensen N, Batwal S, Mahedvi M, Rao H, Dogar V, Chandrasekharan R, Shaligram U, Joshi SB, Volkin DB. A Combined LC-MS and Immunoassay Approach to Characterize Preservative-Induced Destabilization of Human Papillomavirus Virus-like Particles Adsorbed to an Aluminum-Salt Adjuvant. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:580. [PMID: 38932309 PMCID: PMC11209183 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12060580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
During the multi-dose formulation development of recombinant vaccine candidates, protein antigens can be destabilized by antimicrobial preservatives (APs). The degradation mechanisms are often poorly understood since available analytical tools are limited due to low protein concentrations and the presence of adjuvants. In this work, we evaluate different analytical approaches to monitor the structural integrity of HPV16 VLPs adsorbed to Alhydrogel™ (AH) in the presence and absence of APs (i.e., destabilizing m-cresol, MC, or non-destabilizing chlorobutanol, CB) under accelerated conditions (pH 7.4, 50 °C). First, in vitro potency losses displayed only modest correlations with the results from two commonly used methods of protein analysis (SDS-PAGE, DSC). Next, results from two alternative analytical approaches provided a better understanding of physicochemical events occurring under these same conditions: (1) competitive ELISA immunoassays with a panel of mAbs against conformational and linear epitopes on HPV16 VLPs and (2) LC-MS peptide mapping to evaluate the accessibility/redox state of the 12 cysteine residues within each L1 protein comprising the HPV16 VLP (i.e., with 360 L1 proteins per VLP, there are 4320 Cys residues per VLP). These methods expand the limited analytical toolset currently available to characterize AH-adsorbed antigens and provide additional insights into the molecular mechanism(s) of AP-induced destabilization of vaccine antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ria T. Caringal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, 2030 Becker Drive, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA; (R.T.C.); (J.M.H.); (N.S.); (K.J.); (O.B.); (S.B.J.)
| | - John M. Hickey
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, 2030 Becker Drive, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA; (R.T.C.); (J.M.H.); (N.S.); (K.J.); (O.B.); (S.B.J.)
| | - Nitya Sharma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, 2030 Becker Drive, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA; (R.T.C.); (J.M.H.); (N.S.); (K.J.); (O.B.); (S.B.J.)
| | - Kaushal Jerajani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, 2030 Becker Drive, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA; (R.T.C.); (J.M.H.); (N.S.); (K.J.); (O.B.); (S.B.J.)
| | - Oluwadara Bewaji
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, 2030 Becker Drive, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA; (R.T.C.); (J.M.H.); (N.S.); (K.J.); (O.B.); (S.B.J.)
| | - Sarah Brendle
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA; (S.B.); (N.C.)
| | - Neil Christensen
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA; (S.B.); (N.C.)
| | - Saurabh Batwal
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Pune 411028, India; (S.B.); (M.M.); (H.R.); (V.D.); (R.C.); (U.S.)
| | - Mustafa Mahedvi
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Pune 411028, India; (S.B.); (M.M.); (H.R.); (V.D.); (R.C.); (U.S.)
| | - Harish Rao
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Pune 411028, India; (S.B.); (M.M.); (H.R.); (V.D.); (R.C.); (U.S.)
| | - Vikas Dogar
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Pune 411028, India; (S.B.); (M.M.); (H.R.); (V.D.); (R.C.); (U.S.)
| | - Rahul Chandrasekharan
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Pune 411028, India; (S.B.); (M.M.); (H.R.); (V.D.); (R.C.); (U.S.)
| | - Umesh Shaligram
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Pune 411028, India; (S.B.); (M.M.); (H.R.); (V.D.); (R.C.); (U.S.)
| | - Sangeeta B. Joshi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, 2030 Becker Drive, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA; (R.T.C.); (J.M.H.); (N.S.); (K.J.); (O.B.); (S.B.J.)
| | - David B. Volkin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, 2030 Becker Drive, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA; (R.T.C.); (J.M.H.); (N.S.); (K.J.); (O.B.); (S.B.J.)
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Kumru OS, Sanyal M, Friedland N, Hickey JM, Joshi R, Weidenbacher P, Do J, Cheng YC, Kim PS, Joshi SB, Volkin DB. Formulation development and comparability studies with an aluminum-salt adjuvanted SARS-CoV-2 spike ferritin nanoparticle vaccine antigen produced from two different cell lines. Vaccine 2023; 41:6502-6513. [PMID: 37620203 PMCID: PMC11181998 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.08.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
The development of safe and effective second-generation COVID-19 vaccines to improve affordability and storage stability requirements remains a high priority to expand global coverage. In this report, we describe formulation development and comparability studies with a self-assembled SARS-CoV-2 spike ferritin nanoparticle vaccine antigen (called DCFHP), when produced in two different cell lines and formulated with an aluminum-salt adjuvant (Alhydrogel, AH). Varying levels of phosphate buffer altered the extent and strength of antigen-adjuvant interactions, and these formulations were evaluated for their (1) in vivo performance in mice and (2) in vitro stability profiles. Unadjuvanted DCFHP produced minimal immune responses while AH-adjuvanted formulations elicited greatly enhanced pseudovirus neutralization titers independent of ∼100%, ∼40% or ∼10% of the DCFHP antigen adsorbed to AH. These formulations differed, however, in their in vitro stability properties as determined by biophysical studies and a competitive ELISA for measuring ACE2 receptor binding of AH-bound antigen. Interestingly, after one month of 4°C storage, small increases in antigenicity with concomitant decreases in the ability to desorb the antigen from the AH were observed. Finally, we performed a comparability assessment of DCFHP antigen produced in Expi293 and CHO cells, which displayed expected differences in their N-linked oligosaccharide profiles. Despite consisting of different DCFHP glycoforms, these two preparations were highly similar in their key quality attributes including molecular size, structural integrity, conformational stability, binding to ACE2 receptor and mouse immunogenicity profiles. Taken together, these studies support future preclinical and clinical development of an AH-adjuvanted DCFHP vaccine candidate produced in CHO cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozan S Kumru
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Mrinmoy Sanyal
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA; Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Natalia Friedland
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA; Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - John M Hickey
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Richa Joshi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Payton Weidenbacher
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA; Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jonathan Do
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA; Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Ya-Chen Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA; Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Peter S Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA; Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Sangeeta B Joshi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - David B Volkin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA.
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Kumru OS, Bajoria S, Kaur K, Hickey JM, Van Slyke G, Doering J, Berman K, Richardson C, Lien H, Kleanthous H, Mantis NJ, Joshi SB, Volkin DB. Effects of aluminum-salt, CpG and emulsion adjuvants on the stability and immunogenicity of a virus-like particle displaying the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD). Hum Vaccin Immunother 2023; 19:2264594. [PMID: 37932241 PMCID: PMC10760504 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2264594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Second-generation COVID-19 vaccines with improved immunogenicity (e.g., breadth, duration) and availability (e.g., lower costs, refrigerator stable) are needed to enhance global coverage. In this work, we formulated a clinical-stage SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine candidate (IVX-411) with widely available adjuvants. Specifically, we assessed the in vitro storage stability and in vivo mouse immunogenicity of IVX-411 formulated with aluminum-salt adjuvants (Alhydrogel™, AH and Adjuphos™, AP), without or with the TLR-9 agonist CpG-1018™ (CpG), and compared these profiles to IVX-411 adjuvanted with an oil-in-water nano-emulsion (AddaVax™, AV). Although IVX-411 bound both AH and AP, lower binding strength of antigen to AP was observed by Langmuir binding isotherms. Interestingly, AH- and AP-adsorbed IVX-411 had similar storage stability profiles as measured by antigen-binding assays (competitive ELISAs), but the latter displayed higher pseudovirus neutralizing titers (pNT) in mice, at levels comparable to titers elicited by AV-adjuvanted IVX-411. CpG addition to alum (AP or AH) resulted in a marginal trend of improved pNTs in stressed samples only, yet did not impact the storage stability profiles of IVX-411. In contrast, previous work with AH-formulations of a monomeric RBD antigen showed greatly improved immunogenicity and decreased stability upon CpG addition to alum. At elevated temperatures (25, 37°C), IVX-411 formulated with AH or AP displayed decreased in vitro stability compared to AV-formulated IVX-411and this rank-ordering correlated with in vivo performance (mouse pNT values). This case study highlights the importance of characterizing antigen-adjuvant interactions to develop low cost, aluminum-salt adjuvanted recombinant subunit vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozan S. Kumru
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Sakshi Bajoria
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Kawaljit Kaur
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - John M. Hickey
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Greta Van Slyke
- Division of Infectious Disease, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Jennifer Doering
- Division of Infectious Disease, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Katherine Berman
- Division of Infectious Disease, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Harry Kleanthous
- Discovery & Translational Sciences, Global Health, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nicholas J. Mantis
- Division of Infectious Disease, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Sangeeta B. Joshi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - David B. Volkin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
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Kumru OS, Sanyal M, Friedland N, Hickey J, Joshi R, Weidenbacher P, Do J, Cheng YC, Kim PS, Joshi SB, Volkin DB. Formulation development and comparability studies with an aluminum-salt adjuvanted SARS-CoV-2 Spike ferritin nanoparticle vaccine antigen produced from two different cell lines. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.03.535447. [PMID: 37066156 PMCID: PMC10103975 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.03.535447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
The development of safe and effective second-generation COVID-19 vaccines to improve affordability and storage stability requirements remains a high priority to expand global coverage. In this report, we describe formulation development and comparability studies with a self-assembled SARS-CoV-2 spike ferritin nanoparticle vaccine antigen (called DCFHP), when produced in two different cell lines and formulated with an aluminum-salt adjuvant (Alhydrogel, AH). Varying levels of phosphate buffer altered the extent and strength of antigen-adjuvant interactions, and these formulations were evaluated for their (1) in vivo performance in mice and (2) in vitro stability profiles. Unadjuvanted DCFHP produced minimal immune responses while AH-adjuvanted formulations elicited greatly enhanced pseudovirus neutralization titers independent of ∼100%, ∼40% or ∼10% of the DCFHP antigen adsorbed to AH. These formulations differed, however, in their in vitro stability properties as determined by biophysical studies and a competitive ELISA for measuring ACE2 receptor binding of AH-bound antigen. Interestingly, after one month of 4°C storage, small increases in antigenicity with concomitant decreases in the ability to desorb the antigen from the AH were observed. Finally, we performed a comparability assessment of DCFHP antigen produced in Expi293 and CHO cells, which displayed expected differences in their N-linked oligosaccharide profiles. Despite consisting of different DCFHP glycoforms, these two preparations were highly similar in their key quality attributes including molecular size, structural integrity, conformational stability, binding to ACE2 receptor and mouse immunogenicity profiles. Taken together, these studies support future preclinical and clinical development of an AH-adjuvanted DCFHP vaccine candidate produced in CHO cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozan S Kumru
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Mrinmoy Sanyal
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, 94305 USA
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Natalia Friedland
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, 94305 USA
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - John Hickey
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Richa Joshi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Payton Weidenbacher
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, 94305 USA
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Jonathan Do
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, 94305 USA
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Ya-Chen Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, 94305 USA
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Peter S Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, 94305 USA
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Sangeeta B Joshi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - David B Volkin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
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Kumar P, Bird C, Holland D, Joshi SB, Volkin DB. Current and next-generation formulation strategies for inactivated polio vaccines to lower costs, increase coverage, and facilitate polio eradication. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2022; 18:2154100. [PMID: 36576132 PMCID: PMC9891683 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2154100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Implementation of inactivated polio vaccines (IPV) containing Sabin strains (sIPV) will further enable global polio eradication efforts by improving vaccine safety during use and containment during manufacturing. Moreover, sIPV-containing vaccines will lower costs and expand production capacity to facilitate more widespread use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This review focuses on the role of vaccine formulation in these efforts including traditional Salk IPV vaccines and new sIPV-containing dosage forms. The physicochemical properties and stability profiles of poliovirus antigens are described. Formulation approaches to lower costs include developing multidose and combination vaccine formats as well as improving storage stability. Formulation strategies for dose-sparing and enhanced mucosal immunity include employing adjuvants (e.g. aluminum-salt and newer adjuvants) and/or novel delivery systems (e.g. ID administration with microneedle patches). The potential for applying these low-cost formulation development strategies to other vaccines to further improve vaccine access and coverage in LMICs is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashant Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Christopher Bird
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - David Holland
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Sangeeta B. Joshi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - David B. Volkin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
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