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Gray M, Rodriguez-Otero MR, Champion JA. Self-Assembled Recombinant Elastin and Globular Protein Vesicles with Tunable Properties for Diverse Applications. Acc Chem Res 2024; 57:1227-1237. [PMID: 38624000 PMCID: PMC11080046 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.3c00694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
ConspectusVesicles are self-assembled structures comprised of a membrane-like exterior surrounding a hollow lumen with applications in drug delivery, artificial cells, and micro-bioreactors. Lipid or polymer vesicles are the most common and are made of lipids or polymers, respectively. They are highly useful structures for many applications but it can be challenging to decorate them with proteins or encapsulate proteins in them, owing to the use of organic solvent in their formation and the large size of proteins relative to lipid or polymer molecules. By utilization of recombinant fusion proteins to make vesicles, specific protein domains can be directly incorporated while also imparting tunability and stability. Protein vesicle assembly relies on the design and use of self-assembling amphiphilic proteins. A specific protein vesicle platform made in purely aqueous conditions of a globular, functional protein fused to a glutamate-rich leucine zipper (ZE) and a thermoresponsive elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) fused to an arginine-rich leucine zipper (ZR) is discussed here. The hydrophobic conformational change of the ELP above its transition temperature drives assembly, and strong ZE/ZR binding enables incorporation of the desired functional protein. Mixing the soluble proteins on ice induces zipper binding, and then warming above the ELP transition temperature (Tt) triggers the transition to and growth of protein-rich coacervates and, finally, reorganization of proteins into vesicles. Vesicle size is tunable based on salt concentration, rate of heating, protein concentration, size of the globular protein, molar ratio of the proteins, and the ELP sequence. Increasing the salt concentration decreases vesicle size by decreasing the Tt, resulting in a shorter coacervation transition stage. Likewise, directly changing the heating rate also changes this time and increasing protein concentration increases coalescence. Increasing globular protein size decreases the size of the vesicle due to steric hindrance. By changing the ELP sequence, which consists of (VPGXG)n, through the guest residue (X) or number of repeats (n), Tt is changed, affecting size. Additionally, the chemical nature of X variation has endowed vesicles with stimuli responsiveness and stability at physiological conditions.Protein vesicles have been used for biocatalysis, biomacromolecular drug delivery, and vaccine applications. Photo-cross-linkable vesicles were used to deliver small molecule cargo to cancer cells in vitro and antigen to immune cells in vivo. pH-responsive vesicles effectively delivered functional protein cargo, including cytochrome C, to the cytosol of cancer cells in vitro, using hydrophobic ion pairing to improve cargo distribution in the vesicles and release. The globular protein used to make the vesicles can be varied to achieve different functions. For example, enzyme vesicles exhibit biocatalysis, and antigen vesicles induce antibody and cellular immune responses after vaccination in mice. Collectively, the development and engineering of the protein vesicle platform has employed amphiphilic self-assembly strategies and rational protein engineering to control physical, chemical, and biological properties for biotechnology and nanomedicine applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikaela
A. Gray
- School
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Dr NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Mariela R. Rodriguez-Otero
- School
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Dr NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
- BioEngineering
Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Dr NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Julie A. Champion
- School
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Dr NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
- BioEngineering
Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Dr NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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2
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Park J, Champion JA. Development of Self-Assembled Protein Nanocage Spatially Functionalized with HA Stalk as a Broadly Cross-Reactive Influenza Vaccine Platform. ACS Nano 2023; 17:25045-25060. [PMID: 38084728 PMCID: PMC10753887 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c07669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
There remains a need for the development of a universal influenza vaccine, as current seasonal influenza vaccines exhibit limited protection against mismatched, mutated, or pandemic influenza viruses. A desirable approach to developing an effective universal influenza vaccine is the incorporation of highly conserved antigens in a multivalent scaffold that enhances their immunogenicity. Here, we develop a broadly cross-reactive influenza vaccine by functionalizing self-assembled protein nanocages (SAPNs) with multiple copies of the hemagglutinin stalk on the outer surface and matrix protein 2 ectodomain on the inner surface. SAPNs were generated by engineering short coiled coils, and the design was simulated by MD GROMACS. Due to the short sequences, off-target immune responses against empty SAPN scaffolds were not seen in immunized mice. Vaccination with the multivalent SAPNs induces high levels of broadly cross-reactive antibodies of only external antigens, demonstrating tight spatial control over the designed antigen placement. This work demonstrates the use of SAPNs as a potential influenza vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaeyoung Park
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular
Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Dr. NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-2000, United States
| | - Julie A. Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular
Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Dr. NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-2000, United States
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3
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Park J, Zhang Z, Belinskaya T, Tsoras AN, Chao CC, Jiang L, Champion JA. Dual-Antigen Subunit Vaccine Nanoparticles for Scrub Typhus. Pathogens 2023; 12:1390. [PMID: 38133275 PMCID: PMC10745692 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12121390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Orientia tsutsugamushi is the causative pathogen of scrub typhus, an acute febrile disease prevalent in the Asia-Pacific region that is spread to people through chigger bites. Despite the emerging threat, there is no currently available vaccine against O. tsutsugamushi. Here, we developed dual-antigen subunit vaccine nanoparticles using recombinant 47 kD and 56 kD proteins, which are immunogenic outer membrane antigens of O. tsutsugamushi. The biocompatible protein vaccine nanoparticles were formed via desolvation of r56 or r47E antigens with acetone, coating with an additional layer of the 56 kD protein, and stabilization with reducible homobifunctional DTSSP and heterobifunctional SDAD crosslinkers. The dual-antigen subunit vaccine nanoparticles significantly improved antigen-specific antibody responses in vaccinated mice. Most importantly, the dual-antigen nanoparticles coated with an additional layer of the 56 kD protein were markedly more immunogenic than soluble antigens or single-antigen nanoparticles in the context of cellular immune responses. Given the significance of cellular immune responses for protection against O. tsutsugamushi, these results demonstrate the potent immunogenicity of dual-layered antigen nanoparticles and their potential as a promising strategy for developing vaccines against scrub typhus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaeyoung Park
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA; (J.P.); (A.N.T.)
| | - Zhiwen Zhang
- Henry Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, 6720A Rockledge Dr, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA; (Z.Z.); (T.B.)
- Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA;
| | - Tatyana Belinskaya
- Henry Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, 6720A Rockledge Dr, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA; (Z.Z.); (T.B.)
- Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA;
| | - Alexandra N. Tsoras
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA; (J.P.); (A.N.T.)
| | - Chien-Chung Chao
- Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA;
| | - Le Jiang
- Henry Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, 6720A Rockledge Dr, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA; (Z.Z.); (T.B.)
- Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA;
| | - Julie A. Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA; (J.P.); (A.N.T.)
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4
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Zhu W, Park J, Pho T, Wei L, Dong C, Kim J, Ma Y, Champion JA, Wang BZ. ISCOMs/MPLA-Adjuvanted SDAD Protein Nanoparticles Induce Improved Mucosal Immune Responses and Cross-Protection in Mice. Small 2023; 19:e2301801. [PMID: 37162451 PMCID: PMC10524461 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202301801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The epidemics caused by the influenza virus are a serious threat to public health and the economy. Adding appropriate adjuvants to improve immunogenicity and finding effective mucosal vaccines to combat respiratory infection at the portal of virus entry are important strategies to boost protection. In this study, a novel type of core/shell protein nanoparticle consisting of influenza nucleoprotein (NP) as the core and NA1-M2e or NA2-M2e fusion proteins as the coating antigens by SDAD hetero-bifunctional crosslinking is exploited. Immune-stimulating complexes (ISCOMs)/monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) adjuvants further boost the NP/NA-M2e SDAD protein nanoparticle-induced immune responses when administered intramuscularly. The ISCOMs/MPLA-adjuvanted protein nanoparticles are delivered through the intranasal route to validate the application as mucosal vaccines. ISCOMs/MPLA-adjuvanted nanoparticles induce significantly strengthened antigen-specific antibody responses, cytokine-secreting splenocytes in the systemic compartment, and higher levels of antigen-specific IgA and IgG in the local mucosa. Meanwhile, significantly expanded lung resident memory (RM) T and B cells (TRM /BRM ) and alveolar macrophages population are observed in ISCOMs/MPLA-adjuvanted nanoparticle-immunized mice with a 100% survival rate after homogeneous and heterogeneous H3N2 viral challenges. Taken together, ISCOMs/MPLA-adjuvanted protein nanoparticles could improve strong systemic and mucosal immune responses conferring protection in different immunization routes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wandi Zhu
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Jaeyoung Park
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Thomas Pho
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- Bioengineering Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Lai Wei
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Chunhong Dong
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Joo Kim
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Yao Ma
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Julie A. Champion
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- Bioengineering Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Bao-Zhong Wang
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
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5
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Park J, Pho T, Champion JA. Chemical and biological conjugation strategies for the development of multivalent protein vaccine nanoparticles. Biopolymers 2023; 114:e23563. [PMID: 37490564 PMCID: PMC10528127 DOI: 10.1002/bip.23563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
The development of subunit vaccine platforms has been of considerable interest due to their good safety profile and ability to be adapted to new antigens, compared to other vaccine typess. Nevertheless, subunit vaccines often lack sufficient immunogenicity to fully protect against infectious diseases. A wide variety of subunit vaccines have been developed to enhance antigen immunogenicity by increasing antigen multivalency, as well as stability and delivery properties, via presentation of antigens on protein nanoparticles. Increasing multivalency can be an effective approach to provide a potent humoral immune response by more strongly engaging and clustering B cell receptors (BCRs) to induce activation, as well as increased uptake by antigen presenting cells and their subsequent T cell activation. Proper orientation of antigen on protein nanoparticles is also considered a crucial factor for enhanced BCR engagement and subsequent immune responses. Therefore, various strategies have been reported to decorate highly repetitive surfaces of protein nanoparticle scaffolds with multiple copies of antigens, arrange antigens in proper orientation, or combinations thereof. In this review, we describe different chemical bioconjugation methods, approaches for genetic fusion of recombinant antigens, biological affinity tags, and enzymatic conjugation methods to effectively present antigens on the surface of protein nanoparticle vaccine scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaeyoung Park
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332-2000, USA
| | - Thomas Pho
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332-2000, USA
- BioEngineering Program
| | - Julie A. Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332-2000, USA
- BioEngineering Program
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6
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Li Y, Dautel DR, Gray MA, McKenna ME, Champion JA. Rational design of elastin-like polypeptide fusion proteins to tune self-assembly and properties of protein vesicles. J Mater Chem B 2023. [PMID: 37357544 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb00200d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Protein vesicles made from bioactive proteins have potential value in drug delivery, biocatalysis, and as artificial cells. As the proteins are produced recombinantly, the ability to precisely tune the protein sequence provides control not possible with polymeric vesicles. The tunability and biocompatibility motivated this work to develop protein vesicles using rationally designed protein building blocks to investigate how protein sequence influences vesicle self-assembly and properties. We have reported an elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) fused to an arginine-rich leucine zipper (ZR) and functional, globular proteins fused to a glutamate-rich leucine zipper (ZE) that self-assemble into protein vesicles when warmed from 4 to 25 °C due to the hydrophobic transition of ELP. Previously, we demonstrated the ability to tune vesicle properties by changing protein and salt concentration, ZE : ZR ratio, and warming rate. However, there is a limit to the properties that can be achieved via assembly conditions. In order to access a wider range of vesicle diameter and stability profiles, this work investigated how modifiying the hydrophobicity and length of the ELP sequence influenced self-assembly and the final properties of protein vesicles using mCherry as a model globular protein. The results showed that both transition temperature and diameter of protein vesicles were inversely correlated to the ELP guest residue hydrophobicity and the number of ELP pentapeptide repeats. Additionally, sequence manipulation enabled assembly of vesicles with properties not accessible by changes to assembly conditions. For example, introduction of tyrosine at 5 guest residue positions in ELP enabled formation of nanoscale vesicles stable at physiological salt concentration. This work yields design guidelines for modifying the ELP sequence to manipulate protein vesicle transition temperature, size and stability to achieve desired properties for particular biofunctional applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yirui Li
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30332, USA.
- BioEngineering Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30332, USA
| | - Dylan R Dautel
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30332, USA.
| | - Mikaela A Gray
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30332, USA.
| | - Michael E McKenna
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30332, USA.
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30332, USA.
- BioEngineering Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30332, USA
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7
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Abstract
Subunit vaccines offer numerous attractive features, including good safety profiles and well-defined components with highly characterized properties because they do not contain whole pathogens. However, vaccine platforms based on one or few selected antigens are often poorly immunogenic. Several advances have been made in improving the effectiveness of subunit vaccines, including nanoparticle formulation and/or co-administration with adjuvants. Desolvation of antigens into nanoparticles is one approach that has been successful in eliciting protective immune responses. Despite this advance, damage to the antigen structure by desolvation can compromise the recognition of conformational antigens by B cells and the subsequent humoral response. Here, we used ovalbumin as a model antigen to demonstrate enhanced efficacy of subunit vaccines by preserving antigen structures in nanoparticles. An altered antigen structure due to desolvation was first validated by GROMACS and circular dichroism. Desolvant-free nanoparticles with a stable ovalbumin structure were successfully synthesized by directly cross-linking ovalbumin or using ammonium sulfate to form nanoclusters. Alternatively, desolvated OVA nanoparticles were coated with a layer of OVA after desolvation. Vaccination with salt-precipitated nanoparticles increased OVA-specific IgG titers 4.2- and 22-fold compared to the desolvated and coated nanoparticles, respectively. In addition, enhanced affinity maturation by both salt precipitated and coated nanoparticles was displayed in contrast to desolvated nanoparticles. These results demonstrate both that salt-precipitated antigen nanoparticles are a potential new vaccine platform with significantly improved humoral immunity and a functional value of preserving antigen structures in vaccine nanoparticle design.
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8
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Pho T, Champion JA. Surface Engineering of Protein Nanoparticles Modulates Transport, Adsorption, and Uptake in Mucus. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2022; 14:51697-51710. [PMID: 36354361 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c14670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Protein nanoparticles have been demonstrated as effective carriers for protein antigens and therapeutics due to properties endowed by their protein composition. They exhibit high protein to carrier yields, biocompatibility, and heterogeneous surface properties. While protein nanoparticles have been delivered via multiple routes, including intranasal, their interactions with mucosal barriers have not been well studied or modified. Biological barriers associated with intranasal delivery consist of viscoelastic mucus that hinders material transport through surface interactions and the underlying epithelium. Herein, we altered protein nanoparticle surface properties and characterized interactions with nasal mucus and the subsequent effects on diffusion, cellular uptake, and immune cell maturation. Ovalbumin protein nanoparticles were used, serving as a model vaccine nanoparticle. Unmodified ovalbumin protein nanoparticles were compared to cationic ovalbumin particles functionalized with amine groups, neutral particles functionalized with polyethylene glycol, and zwitterionic particles coated layer-by-layer (LBL) with chitosan and oligonucleotides. Transport analysis indicated rapid diffusion of polyethylene glycol and LBL-modified ovalbumin nanoparticles in porcine nasal mucus, while cationic particles were mucoadhesive. Cellular uptake in the presence of mucus by epithelial and dendritic cells was highest for particles containing positive charges, both LBL and amine-functionalized. These particles also exhibited the most diverse adsorbed protein corona from nasal fluids. The corona impacted both dendritic cell uptake and maturation, with polyethylene glycol and LBL modifications improving CD86 expression. Altogether, surface modifications on protein-based nanocarriers are shown to facilitate distinctive physical and cellular behavior associated with mucosal delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Pho
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, BioEngineering Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia30332-2000, United States
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, BioEngineering Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia30332-2000, United States
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9
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Li Y, Champion JA. Self-assembling nanocarriers from engineered proteins: Design, functionalization, and application for drug delivery. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 189:114462. [PMID: 35934126 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembling proteins are valuable building blocks for constructing drug nanocarriers due to their self-assembly behavior, monodispersity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Genetic and chemical modifications allow for modular design of protein nanocarriers with effective drug encapsulation, targetability, stimuli responsiveness, and in vivo half-life. Protein nanocarriers have been developed to deliver various therapeutic molecules including small molecules, proteins, and nucleic acids with proven in vitro and in vivo efficacy. This article reviews recent advances in protein nanocarriers that are not derived from natural protein nanostructures, such as protein cages or virus like particles. The protein nanocarriers described here are self-assembled from rationally or de novo designed recombinant proteins, as well as recombinant proteins complexed with other biomolecules, presenting properties that are unique from those of natural protein carriers. Design, functionalization, and therapeutic application of protein nanocarriers will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yirui Li
- BioEngineering Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States; BioEngineering Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States.
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10
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Dautel DR, Champion JA. Self-Assembly of Functional Protein Nanosheets from Thermoresponsive Bolaamphiphiles. Biomacromolecules 2022; 23:3612-3620. [PMID: 36018255 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c00525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Nanosheets are two-dimensional materials, less than 100 nm thick, that can be used for separations, biosensing, and biocatalysis. Nanosheets can be made from inorganic and organic materials such as graphene, polymers, and proteins. Here, we report the self-assembly of nanosheets under aqueous conditions from functional proteins. The nanosheets are synthesized from two fusion proteins held together by high-affinity interactions of two leucine zippers to form bolaamphiphiles. The hydrophobic domain, ZR-ELP-ZR, contains the thermoresponsive elastin-like peptide (ELP) flanked by arginine-rich leucine zippers (ZR), each of which binds the hydrophilic fusion protein, globule-ZE, via the glutamate-rich leucine zipper (ZE) fused to a functional, globular protein. Nanosheets form when the proteins are mixed at 4 °C in aqueous solutions and then heated to 25 °C as the container is rotated end-over-end causing expansion and contraction of the air-water interface. The nanosheets are robust with respect to the choice of globular protein and can incorporate small fluorescent proteins that are less than 30 kDa as well as large enzymes, such as 80 kDa malate synthase G. Upon incorporation into nanosheets, enzymes retain more than 70% of their original activity, demonstrating the potential of protein nanosheets to be used for biosensing or biocatalytic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan R Dautel
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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11
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Abstract
Protein biomaterials offer several advantages over those made from other components because their amino acid sequence can be precisely controlled with genetic engineering to produce a diverse set of material building blocks. In this work, three different elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) sequences were designed to synthesize pH-responsive protein vesicles. ELPs undergo a thermally induced hydrophobic transition that enables self-assembly of different kinds of protein biomaterials. The transition can be tuned by the composition of the guest residue, X, within the ELP pentapeptide repeat unit, VPGXG. When the guest residue is substituted with an ionizable amino acid, such as histidine, the ELP undergoes a pH-dependent hydrophobic phase transition. We used pH-responsive ELPs with different levels of histidine substitution, in combination with leucine zippers and globular, functional proteins, to fabricate protein vesicles. We demonstrate pH-dependent self-assembly, diameter, and disassembly of the vesicles using a combination of turbidimetry, dynamic light scattering, microscopy, and small angle X-ray scattering. As the ELP transition is dependent on the sequence, the vesicle properties also depend on the histidine content in the ELP building blocks. These results demonstrate the tunability of protein vesicles endowed with pH responsiveness, which expands their potential in drug-delivery applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan R Dautel
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - William T Heller
- Neutron Scattering, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, PO Box 2008, MS 6473, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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12
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Abstract
Enzyme immobilization is an essential technology for commercializing biocatalysis. It imparts stability, recoverability, and other valuable features that improve the effectiveness of biocatalysts. While many avenues to join an enzyme to solid phases exist, protein-mediated immobilization is rapidly developing and has many advantages. Protein-mediated immobilization allows for the binding interaction to be genetically coded, can be used to create artificial multienzyme cascades, and enables modular designs that expand the variety of enzymes immobilized. By designing around binding interactions between protein domains, they can be integrated into functional materials for protein immobilization. These materials are framed within the context of biocatalytic performance, immobilization efficiency, and stability of the materials. In this review, supports composed entirely of protein are discussed first, with systems such as cellulosomes and protein cages being discussed alongside newer technologies like spore-based biocatalysts and forizymes. Protein-composite materials such as polymersomes and protein-inorganic supraparticles are then discussed to demonstrate how protein-mediated strategies are applied to many classes of solid materials. Critical analysis and future directions of protein-based immobilization are then discussed, with a particular focus on both computational and design strategies to advance this area of research and make it more broadly applicable to many classes of enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam A Caparco
- Department of Nanoengineering, University of California, San Diego, MC 0448, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Dylan R Dautel
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
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13
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Vanbever R, Champion JA. Editorial Overview: Drug Delivery: Natural and bioinspired carriers for therapeutic delivery. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2021.101533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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14
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Li Y, Champion JA. Photocrosslinked, Tunable Protein Vesicles for Drug Delivery Applications. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2001810. [PMID: 33511792 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202001810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Recombinant proteins have emerged as promising building blocks for vesicle self-assembly because of their versatility through genetic manipulation and biocompatibility. Vesicles composed of thermally responsive elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) fusion proteins encapsulate cargo during assembly. However, vesicle stability in physiological environments remains a significant challenge for biofunctional applications. Here, incorporation of an unnatural amino acid, para-azido phenylalanine, into the ELP domain is reported to enable photocrosslinking of protein vesicles and tuning of vesicle size and swelling. The size of the vesicles can be tuned by changing ELP hydrophobicity and ionic strength. Protein vesicles are assessed for their ability to encapsulate doxorubicin and dually deliver doxorubicin and fluorescent protein in vitro as a proof of concept. The resulting photocrosslinkable vesicles made from full-sized, functional proteins show high potential in drug delivery applications, especially for small molecule/protein combination therapies or targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yirui Li
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering BioEngineering Program Georgia Institute of Technology 950 Atlantic Dr. NW Atlanta GA 30332‐2000 USA
| | - Julie A. Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering BioEngineering Program Georgia Institute of Technology 950 Atlantic Dr. NW Atlanta GA 30332‐2000 USA
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15
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Caparco AA, Wang M, Das A, Bommarius AS, Champion JA. Tuning the Morphology of Protein-Inorganic Calcium-Phosphate Supraparticles via Directed Assembly. Langmuir 2020; 36:15296-15308. [PMID: 33301323 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c02735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the phenomena that govern complex interfacial and directed assemblies is essential for both control and scale-up of particle syntheses. The present work describes an effort to understand, control, and tune the formation of protein-inorganic calcium-phosphate supraparticles that are produced at an oscillating air-water interface created by end-over-end rotation of the synthesis solution. Supraparticles were synthesized under an array of different conditions that varied reagent concentration, the presence of additives, tube size, and rotational speed. Paired with a fluid mechanics model of the end-over-end rotation and dimensional analysis, the sensitivity of the synthesis to physicochemical and mechanical parameters was determined. Surface tension and bubble formation were found to be important criteria for changing the size distribution of supraparticles. Thresholds for the values of the Froude, Iribarren, and rotational Reynolds numbers were identified for narrowing particle size distribution. These results both guide the specific protein-inorganic supraparticle synthesis described here and inform future manipulation and scale-up of other complex interfacial colloidal assemblies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam A Caparco
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Melanee Wang
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Ankita Das
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Andreas S Bommarius
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
- Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
- Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
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16
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Pustulka SM, Ling K, Pish SL, Champion JA. Protein Nanoparticle Charge and Hydrophobicity Govern Protein Corona and Macrophage Uptake. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2020; 12:48284-48295. [PMID: 33054178 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c12341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Protein nanoparticles are biomaterials composed entirely of proteins, with the protein sequence and structure determining the nanoparticle physicochemical properties. Upon exposure to physiological or environmental fluids, it is likely that protein nanoparticles, like synthetic nanoparticles, will adsorb proteins and this protein corona will be dependent on the surface properties of the protein nanoparticles. As there is little understanding of this phenomenon for engineered protein nanoparticles, the purpose of this work was to create protein nanoparticles with variable surface hydrophobicity and surface charge and establish the effect of these properties on the mass and composition of the adsorbed corona, using the fetal bovine serum as a model physiological solution. Albumin, cationic albumin, and ovalbumin cross-linked nanoparticles were developed for this investigation and their adsorbed protein coronas were isolated and characterized by gel electrophoresis and nanoliquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Distinct trends in corona mass and composition were identified for protein nanoparticles based on surface charge and surface hydrophobicity. Proteomic analyses revealed unique protein corona patterns and identified distinct proteins that are known to affect nanoparticle clearance in vivo. Further, the protein corona influenced nanoparticle internalization in vitro in a macrophage cell line. Altogether, these results demonstrate the strong effect protein identity and properties have on the corona formed on nanoparticles made from that protein. This work builds the foundation for future study of protein coronas on the wide array of protein nanoparticles used in nanomedicine and environmental applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Pustulka
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Kevin Ling
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Stephanie L Pish
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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17
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Lv W, Champion JA. Demonstration of intracellular trafficking, cytosolic bioavailability, and target manipulation of an antibody delivery platform. Nanomedicine 2020; 32:102315. [PMID: 33065253 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2020.102315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Intracellular antibody delivery into live cells has significant implications for research and therapeutic applications. However, many delivery systems lack potency due to low uptake and/or endosomal entrapment and understanding of intracellular delivery processes is lacking. Herein, we studied the cellular uptake, intracellular trafficking and targeting of antibodies using our previously developed Hex antibody nanocarrier. We demonstrated Hex-antibodies were internalized through multiple endocytic routes into lysosomes and provide evidence of endo/lysosomal disruption and Hex-antibody release to the cytosol. Cytosolic antibodies retained their bioactivity for at least 24 h. Functional effect of Hex delivered anti-STAT3 antibodies was evidenced by inhibition of nuclear translocation of cytosolic transcription factor STAT3. This study has generated understanding of key steps in the Hex intracellular antibody delivery system and will facilitate the development of effective cytosolic antibody delivery and applications in both the therapeutic and research domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Lv
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States.
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18
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Abstract
Protein vesicles can be synthesized by mixing two fusion proteins: an elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) fused to an arginine-rich leucine zipper (ZR) with a globular, soluble protein fused to a glutamate-rich leucine zipper (ZE). Currently, only fluorescent proteins have been incorporated into vesicles; however, for protein vesicles to be useful for biocatalysis, drug delivery, or biosensing, vesicles must assemble from functional proteins that span an array of properties and functionalities. In this work, the globular protein was systematically changed to determine the effects of the surface charge and size on the self-assembly of protein vesicles. The formation of microphases, which included vesicles, coacervates, and hybrid structures, was monitored at different assembly conditions to determine the phase space for each globular protein. The results show that the protein surface charge has a small effect on vesicle self-assembly. However, increasing the size of the globular protein decreases the vesicle size and increases the stability at lower ZE/ZR molar ratios. The phase diagrams created can be used as guidelines to incorporate new functional proteins into vesicles. Furthermore, this work reports catalytically active enzyme vesicles, demonstrating the potential for the application of vesicles as biocatalysts or biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan R Dautel
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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19
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Poulsen KM, Pho T, Champion JA, Payne CK. Automation and low-cost proteomics for characterization of the protein corona: experimental methods for big data. Anal Bioanal Chem 2020; 412:6543-6551. [PMID: 32500258 PMCID: PMC7483600 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-020-02726-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Nanoparticles used in biological settings are exposed to proteins that adsorb on the surface forming a protein corona. These adsorbed proteins dictate the subsequent cellular response. A major challenge has been predicting what proteins will adsorb on a given nanoparticle surface. Instead, each new nanoparticle and nanoparticle modification must be tested experimentally to determine what proteins adsorb on the surface. We propose that any future predictive ability will depend on large datasets of protein-nanoparticle interactions. As a first step towards this goal, we have developed an automated workflow using a liquid handling robot to form and isolate protein coronas. As this workflow depends on magnetic separation steps, we test the ability to embed magnetic nanoparticles within a protein nanoparticle. These experiments demonstrate that magnetic separation could be used for any type of nanoparticle in which a magnetic core can be embedded. Higher-throughput corona characterization will also require lower-cost approaches to proteomics. We report a comparison of fast, low-cost, and standard, slower, higher-cost liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry to identify the protein corona. These methods will provide a step forward in the acquisition of the large datasets necessary to predict nanoparticle-protein interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karsten M Poulsen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Thomas Pho
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
| | - Christine K Payne
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
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20
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Tsoras AN, Wong KM, Paravastu AK, Champion JA. Rational Design of Antigen Incorporation Into Subunit Vaccine Biomaterials Can Enhance Antigen-Specific Immune Responses. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1547. [PMID: 32849524 PMCID: PMC7396695 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptide subunit vaccines increase safety by reducing the risk of off-target responses and improving the specificity of the induced adaptive immune response. The immunogenicity of most soluble peptides, however, is often insufficient to produce robust and lasting immunity. Many biomaterials and delivery vehicles have been developed for peptide antigens to improve immune response while maintaining specificity. Peptide nanoclusters (PNC) are a subunit peptide vaccine material that has shown potential to increase immunogenicity of peptide antigens. PNC are comprised only of crosslinked peptide antigen and have been synthesized from several peptide antigens as small as 8 amino acids in length. However, as with many peptide vaccine biomaterials, synthesis requires adding residues to the peptide and/or engaging amino acids within the antigen epitope covalently to form a stable material. The impact of antigen modifications made to enable biomaterial incorporation or formation is rarely investigated, since the goal of most studies is to compare the soluble antigen with biomaterial form of antigen. This study investigates PNC as a platform vaccine biomaterial to evaluate how peptide modification and biomaterial formation with different crosslinking chemistries affect epitope-specific immune cell presentation and activation. Several types of PNC were synthesized by desolvation from the model peptide epitope SIINFEKL, which is derived from the immunogenic protein ovalbumin. SIINFEKL was altered to include extra residues on each end, strategically chosen to enable multiple conjugation chemistry options for incorporation into PNC. Several crosslinking methods were used to control which functional groups were used to stabilize the PNC, as well as the reducibility of the crosslinking. These variations were evaluated for immune responses and biodistribution following in vivo immunization. All modified antigen formulations still induced comparable immune responses when incorporated into PNC compared to unmodified soluble antigen alone. However, some crosslinking methods led to a significant increase in desirable immune responses while others did not, suggesting that not all PNC were processed the same. These results help guide future peptide vaccine biomaterial design, including PNC and a wide variety of conjugated and self-assembled peptide antigen materials, to maximize and tune the desired immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Julie A. Champion
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Atlanta, GA, United States
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21
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Caparco AA, Bommarius BR, Bommarius AS, Champion JA. Protein-inorganic calcium-phosphate supraparticles as a robust platform for enzyme co-immobilization. Biotechnol Bioeng 2020; 117:1979-1989. [PMID: 32255509 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Immobilization of enzymes provides many benefits, including facile separation and recovery of enzymes from reaction mixtures, enhanced stability, and co-localization of multiple enzymes. Calcium-phosphate-protein supraparticles imbued with a leucine zipper binding domain (ZR ) serve as a modular immobilization platform for enzymes fused to the complementary leucine zipper domain (ZE ). The zippers provide high-affinity, specific binding, separating enzymatic activity from the binding event. Using fluorescent model proteins (mCherryZE and eGFPZE ), an amine dehydrogenase (AmDHZE ), and a formate dehydrogenase (FDHZE ), the efficacy of supraparticles as a biocatalytic solid support was assessed. Supraparticles demonstrated several benefits as an immobilization support, including predictable loading of multiple proteins, structural integrity in a panel of solvents, and the ability to elute and reload proteins without damaging the support. The dual-enzyme reaction successfully converted ketone to amine on supraparticles, highlighting the efficacy of this system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam A Caparco
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Bettina R Bommarius
- Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Andreas S Bommarius
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
- Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
- Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
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22
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Caparco AA, Pelletier E, Petit JL, Jouenne A, Bommarius BR, Berardinis V, Zaparucha A, Champion JA, Bommarius AS, Vergne‐Vaxelaire C. Metagenomic Mining for Amine Dehydrogenase Discovery. Adv Synth Catal 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/adsc.202000094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adam A. Caparco
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular EngineeringGeorgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Eric Pelletier
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ EvryUniversité Paris-Saclay 91057 Evry France
| | - Jean Louis Petit
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ EvryUniversité Paris-Saclay 91057 Evry France
| | - Aurélie Jouenne
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ EvryUniversité Paris-Saclay 91057 Evry France
| | - Bettina R. Bommarius
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular EngineeringGeorgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Véronique Berardinis
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ EvryUniversité Paris-Saclay 91057 Evry France
| | - Anne Zaparucha
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ EvryUniversité Paris-Saclay 91057 Evry France
| | - Julie A. Champion
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular EngineeringGeorgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Andreas S. Bommarius
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular EngineeringGeorgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Carine Vergne‐Vaxelaire
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ EvryUniversité Paris-Saclay 91057 Evry France
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23
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Dhankher A, Hernandez ME, Howard HC, Champion JA. Characterization and Control of Dynamic Rearrangement in a Self-Assembled Antibody Carrier. Biomacromolecules 2020; 21:1407-1416. [PMID: 32134251 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.9b01712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Thorough characterization of protein assemblies is required for the control of structure and robust performance in any given application, especially for the safety and stability of protein therapeutics. Here, we report the use of multiple, orthogonal characterization techniques to enable control over the structure of a multivalent antibody carrier for future use in drug delivery applications. The carrier, known as Hex, contains six antibody binding domains that bind the Fc region of antibodies. Using size exclusion chromatography, analytical ultracentrifugation, and dynamic light scattering, we identified the stoichiometry of assembled Hex-antibody complexes and observed changes in the stoichiometry of nanocarriers when incubated at higher temperatures over time. The characterization data informed the modification of Hex to achieve tighter control over the protein assembly structure for future therapeutic applications. This work demonstrates the importance of using orthogonal characterization techniques and observing protein assembly in different conditions over time to fully understand and control structure and dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anshul Dhankher
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Manuel E Hernandez
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Hannah C Howard
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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24
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Abstract
Although vaccines have been the primary defense against widespread infectious disease for decades, there is a critical need for improvement to combat complex and variable diseases. More control and specificity over the immune response can be achieved by using only subunit components in vaccines. However, these often lack sufficient immunogenicity to fully protect, and conjugation or carrier materials are required. A variety of protein and peptide biomaterials have improved effectiveness and delivery of subunit vaccines for infectious, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. They are biodegradable and have control over both material structure and immune function. Many of these materials are built from naturally occurring self-assembling proteins, which have been engineered for incorporation of vaccine components. In contrast, others are de novo designs of structures with immune function. In this review, protein biomaterial design, engineering, and immune functionality as vaccines or immunotherapies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra N Tsoras
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-2000, USA;
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-2000, USA;
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25
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Jang Y, Hsieh MC, Dautel D, Guo S, Grover MA, Champion JA. Understanding the Coacervate-to-Vesicle Transition of Globular Fusion Proteins to Engineer Protein Vesicle Size and Membrane Heterogeneity. Biomacromolecules 2019; 20:3494-3503. [PMID: 31460745 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.9b00773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Protein-rich coacervates are liquid phases separate from the aqueous bulk phase that are used by nature for compartmentalization and more recently have been exploited by engineers for delivery and formulation applications. They also serve as an intermediate phase in an assembly path to more complex structures, such as vesicles. Recombinant fusion protein complexes made from a globular protein fused with a glutamic acid-rich leucine zipper (globule-ZE) and an arginine-rich leucine zipper fused with an elastin-like polypeptide (ZR-ELP) show different phases from soluble, through an intermediate coacervate phase, and finally to vesicles with increasing temperature of the aqueous solution. We investigated the phase transition kinetics of the fusion protein complexes at different temperatures using dynamic light scattering and microscopy, along with mathematical modeling. We controlled coacervate growth by aging the solution at an intermediate temperature that supports coacervation and confirmed that the size of the coacervate droplets dictates the size of vesicles formed upon further heating. With this understanding of the phase transition, we developed strategies to induce heterogeneity in the organization of globular proteins in the vesicle membrane through simple mixing of coacervates containing two different globular fusion proteins prior to the vesicle transition. This study gives fundamental insights and practical strategies for development of globular protein-rich coacervates and vesicles for drug delivery, microreactors, and protocell applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeongseon Jang
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , Georgia Institute of Technology , 950 Atlantic Drive NW , Atlanta , Georgia 30332 , United States.,Department of Chemical Engineering , University of Florida , 1006 Center Drive , Gainesville , Florida 32611 , United States
| | - Ming-Chien Hsieh
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , Georgia Institute of Technology , 950 Atlantic Drive NW , Atlanta , Georgia 30332 , United States.,Department of Chemistry , Emory University , Atlanta , Georgia 30322 , United States
| | - Dylan Dautel
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , Georgia Institute of Technology , 950 Atlantic Drive NW , Atlanta , Georgia 30332 , United States
| | - Sherry Guo
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , Georgia Institute of Technology , 950 Atlantic Drive NW , Atlanta , Georgia 30332 , United States
| | - Martha A Grover
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , Georgia Institute of Technology , 950 Atlantic Drive NW , Atlanta , Georgia 30332 , United States
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , Georgia Institute of Technology , 950 Atlantic Drive NW , Atlanta , Georgia 30332 , United States
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26
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Ng NL, Tuet WY, Chen Y, Fok S, Gao D, Tagle Rodriguez MS, Klein M, Grosberg A, Weber RJ, Champion JA. Cellular and Acellular Assays for Measuring Oxidative Stress Induced by Ambient and Laboratory-Generated Aerosols. Res Rep Health Eff Inst 2019; 2019:1-57. [PMID: 31872749 PMCID: PMC7266377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Many studies have established associations between exposure to air pollution, or atmospheric particulate matter (PM), and adverse health effects. An increasing array of studies have suggested oxidative stress as a possible mechanism by which PM-induced health effects arise, and as a result, many chemical and cellular assays have been developed to study PM-induced oxidant production. Although significant progress has been made in recent years, there are still many gaps in this area of research that have not been addressed. Many prior studies have focused on the aerosol of primary origin (e.g., the aerosol emitted from combustion engines) although the aerosol formed from the oxidation of volatile species, secondary organic aerosol (SOA), has been shown to be the predominant type of aerosol even in urban areas. Current SOA health studies are limited in number, and as such, the health effects of SOA are poorly characterized. Also, there is a lack of perspective in terms of the relative toxicities of different SOA systems. Additionally, although chemical assays have identified some SOA constituents associated with adverse health endpoints, the applicability of these results to cellular responses has not been well established. SPECIFIC AIMS The overall objective of this study was to better understand the oxidative properties of different types and components of PM mixtures (especially SOA) through systematic laboratory chamber experiments and ambient field studies. The study had four specific aims. 1 To develop a cellular assay optimized for measuring reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) production resulting from PM exposure and to identify a robust parameter that could represent ROS/RNS levels for comparison with different endpoints. 2 To identify ambient PM components associated with ROS/RNS production and evaluate whether results from chemical assays represented cellular responses in terms of ROS/RNS production. 3 To investigate and provide perspective on the relative toxicities of SOA formed from common biogenic and anthropogenic precursors under different conditions (e.g., humidity, nitrogen oxides [NOx], and redox-active metals) and identify bulk aerosol properties associated with cellular responses. 4 To investigate the effects of photochemical aging on aerosol toxicity. METHODS Ambient PM samples were collected from urban and rural sites in the greater Atlanta area as part of the Southeastern Center for Air Pollution and Epidemiology (SCAPE) study between June 2012 and October 2013. The concentrations of water-soluble species (e.g., water-soluble organic carbon [WSOC], brown carbon [Br C], and metals) were characterized using a variety of instruments. Samples for this study were chosen to span the observed range of dithiothreitol (DTT) activities. Laboratory studies were conducted in the Georgia Tech Environmental Chamber (GTEC) facility in order to generate SOA under well-controlled photooxidation conditions. Precursors of biogenic origin (isoprene, α-pinene, and β-caryophyllene) and anthropogenic origin (pentadecane, m-xylene, and naphthalene) were oxidized under various formation conditions (dry vs. humid, NOx, and ammonium sulfate vs. iron sulfate seed particles) to produce SOA of differing chemical composition and mass loading. For the naphthalene system, a series of experiments were conducted with different initial hydrocarbon concentrations to produce aerosols with various degree of oxidation. A suite of instruments was utilized to monitor gas- and particle-phase species. Bulk aerosol properties (e.g., O:C, H:C, and N:C ratios) were measured using a high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer. Filter samples were collected for chemical oxidative potential and cellular measurements. For the naphthalene system, multiple filter samples were collected over the course of a single experiment to collect aerosols of different photochemical aging. For all filter samples, chemical oxidative potentials were determined for water-soluble extracts using a semiautomated DTT assay system. Murine alveolar macrophages and neonatal rat ventricular myocytes were also exposed to PM samples extracted in cell culture medium to investigate cellular responses. ROS/RNS production was detected using the intracellular ROS/RNS probe, carboxy-2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (carboxy-H2DCFA), whereas cellular metabolic activity was assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). Finally, cytokine production, that is, secreted levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), were measured post-exposure using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). To identify PM constituents associated with oxidative properties, linear regressions between oxidative properties (cellular responses or DTT activity) and aerosol composition (metals, elemental ratios, etc.) were evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficient, where the significance was determined using multiple imputation and evaluated using a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS We optimized several parameters for the ROS/RNS assay, including cell density (2 × 104 cells/well for macrophages and 3.33 × 104 cells/well for cardiomyocytes), probe concentration (10 µM), and sample incubation time (24 hours). Results from both ambient and laboratory-generated aerosols demonstrate that ROS/RNS production was highly dose-dependent and nonlinear with respect to PM dose. Of the dose-response metrics investigated in this study (maximum response, dose at which the response is 10% above the baseline [threshold], dose at which 50% of the response is attained [EC50], rate at which the maximum response is attained [Hill slope], and area under the dose-response curve [AUC]), we found that the AUC was the most robust parameter whose informativeness did not depend on dose range. A positive, significant correlation was observed between ROS/RNS production as represented by AUC and chemical oxidative potential as measured by DTT for ambient samples collected in summer. Conversely, a relatively constant AUC was observed for ambient samples collected in winter regardless of the corresponding DTT activity. We also identified several PM constituents (WSOC, BrC, iron, and titanium) that were significantly correlated with AUC for summer samples. The strong correlation between organic species and ROS/RNS production highlights a need to understand the contribution of organic aerosols to PM-induced health effects. No significant correlations were observed for other ROS/RNS metrics or PM constituents, and no spatial trends were observed. For laboratory-generated aerosol, precursor identity influenced oxidative potentials significantly, with isoprene and naphthalene SOA having the lowest and highest DTT activities, respectively. Both precursor identity and formation condition significantly influenced inflammatory responses induced by SOA exposure, and several response patterns were identified for SOA precursors whose photooxidation products share similar carbon-chain length and functionalities. The presence of iron sulfate seed particles did not have an apparent effect on oxidative potentials; however, a higher level of ROS/RNS production was observed for all SOA formed in the presence of iron sulfate compared with ammonium sulfate. We also identified a significant positive correlation between ROS/RNS production and average carbon oxidation state, a bulk aerosol property. It may therefore be possible to roughly estimate ROS/RNS production using this property, which is readily obtainable. This correlation may have significant implications as aerosols have an atmospheric lifetime of a week, during which average carbon oxidation state increases because of atmospheric photochemical aging. Our results suggest that aerosols might become more toxic as they age in the atmosphere. Finally, in the context of ambient samples, laboratory-generated SOA induced comparable or higher levels of ROS/RNS. Oxidative potentials for all laboratory SOA systems, with the exception of naphthalene (which was higher), were all comparable with oxidative potentials observed in ambient samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- N L Ng
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
| | - W Y Tuet
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
| | - Y Chen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
| | - S Fok
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
| | - D Gao
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
| | - M S Tagle Rodriguez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - M Klein
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - A Grosberg
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - R J Weber
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
| | - J A Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
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Ling K, Wu H, Neish AS, Champion JA. Alginate/chitosan microparticles for gastric passage and intestinal release of therapeutic protein nanoparticles. J Control Release 2019; 295:174-186. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2018.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Wilson CJ, Bommarius AS, Champion JA, Chernoff YO, Lynn DG, Paravastu AK, Liang C, Hsieh MC, Heemstra JM. Biomolecular Assemblies: Moving from Observation to Predictive Design. Chem Rev 2018; 118:11519-11574. [PMID: 30281290 PMCID: PMC6650774 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Biomolecular assembly is a key driving force in nearly all life processes, providing structure, information storage, and communication within cells and at the whole organism level. These assembly processes rely on precise interactions between functional groups on nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and small molecules, and can be fine-tuned to span a range of time, length, and complexity scales. Recognizing the power of these motifs, researchers have sought to emulate and engineer biomolecular assemblies in the laboratory, with goals ranging from modulating cellular function to the creation of new polymeric materials. In most cases, engineering efforts are inspired or informed by understanding the structure and properties of naturally occurring assemblies, which has in turn fueled the development of predictive models that enable computational design of novel assemblies. This Review will focus on selected examples of protein assemblies, highlighting the story arc from initial discovery of an assembly, through initial engineering attempts, toward the ultimate goal of predictive design. The aim of this Review is to highlight areas where significant progress has been made, as well as to outline remaining challenges, as solving these challenges will be the key that unlocks the full power of biomolecules for advances in technology and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey J. Wilson
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Andreas S. Bommarius
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Julie A. Champion
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Yury O. Chernoff
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
- Laboratory of Amyloid Biology & Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
| | - David G. Lynn
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Anant K. Paravastu
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Chen Liang
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Ming-Chien Hsieh
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Jennifer M. Heemstra
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
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Deming TJ, Klok HA, Armes SP, Becker ML, Champion JA, Chen EYX, Heilshorn SC, van Hest JCM, Irvine DJ, Johnson JA, Kiessling LL, Maynard HD, de la Cruz MO, Sullivan MO, Tirrell MV, Anseth KS, Lecommandoux S, Percec S, Zhong Z, Albertsson AC. Polymers at the Interface with Biology. Biomacromolecules 2018; 19:3151-3162. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.8b01029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy J. Deming
- Departments of Bioengineering, Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1600, United States
| | - Harm-Anton Klok
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Institut des Matériaux and Institut des Sciences et Ingénierie Chimiques, Laboratoire des Polymères, Bâtiment MXD, Station 12, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Steven P. Armes
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, S3 7HF, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew L. Becker
- Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325-3909, United States
| | - Julie A. Champion
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-2000, United States
| | - Eugene Y.-X. Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1872, United States
| | - Sarah C. Heilshorn
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Jan C. M. van Hest
- Department of Biomedical Engineering & Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Darrell J. Irvine
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Department of Biological Engineering, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Jeremiah A. Johnson
- Department of Chemistry, Program in Polymers and Soft Matter, and Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Laura L. Kiessling
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Heather D. Maynard
- Departments of Bioengineering, Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1600, United States
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, California 90095-1569, United States
| | - Monica Olvera de la Cruz
- Departments of Materials Science and Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical and Biological Engineering and Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Millicent O. Sullivan
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Matthew V. Tirrell
- Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, 5640 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Kristi S. Anseth
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Sebastien Lecommandoux
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques, LCPO, Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, UMR 5629, 16 Avenue Pey Berland F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Simona Percec
- Department of Chemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
| | - Zhiyuan Zhong
- Biomedical Polymers Laboratory, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Ann-Christine Albertsson
- Fibre and Polymer Technology, Royal Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 56-58, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
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Chang TZ, Deng L, Wang BZ, Champion JA. H7 Hemagglutinin nanoparticles retain immunogenicity after >3 months of 25°C storage. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0202300. [PMID: 30092060 PMCID: PMC6084952 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccine distribution infrastructure remains inadequate in many parts of the world, and it is estimated that up to 40–50% of all vaccine doses are wasted in certain countries. Vaccines that can maintain viability outside of the cold chain would decrease vaccine wastage and increase immunization rates in regions of the world with underdeveloped vaccine distribution infrastructure. We examined the potential of crosslinked protein nanoparticles, made from trimerized influenza hemagglutinin (3HA), to maintain immunogenicity after cold-chain-independent storage. We found that the nanoparticles could be stored for 112 days at room temperature without any loss in hemagglutinating activity or immunogenicity, and that nanoparticles could be stored at 37°C for 2 weeks without any loss in hemagglutinating activity. As vaccine development moves towards the use of recombinant subunit antigens, our results demonstrate the potential of crosslinked antigen nanoparticles as an immunogenic vehicle for bringing effective vaccines to underdeveloped regions outside of the cold chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Z. Chang
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Lei Deng
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Bao-Zhong Wang
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Julie A. Champion
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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31
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Caparco AA, Bommarius AS, Champion JA. Effect of peptide linker length and composition on immobilization and catalysis of leucine zipper‐enzyme fusion proteins. AIChE J 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/aic.16150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Adam A. Caparco
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Petit Institute for Bioengineering and BioscienceGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlanta GA 30332
| | - Andreas S. Bommarius
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Petit Institute for Bioengineering and BioscienceGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlanta GA 30332
| | - Julie A. Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Petit Institute for Bioengineering and BioscienceGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlanta GA 30332
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32
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra N. Tsoras
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Julie A. Champion
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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33
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Jang Y, Choi WT, Johnson CT, García AJ, Singh PM, Breedveld V, Hess DW, Champion JA. Inhibition of Bacterial Adhesion on Nanotextured Stainless Steel 316L by Electrochemical Etching. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2018; 4:90-97. [PMID: 29333490 PMCID: PMC5761049 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.7b00544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial adhesion to stainless steel 316L (SS316L), which is an alloy typically used in many medical devices and food processing equipment, can cause serious infections along with substantial healthcare costs. This work demonstrates that nanotextured SS316L surfaces produced by electrochemical etching effectively inhibit bacterial adhesion of both Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, but exhibit cytocompatibility and no toxicity toward mammalian cells in vitro. Additionally, the electrochemical surface modification on SS316L results in formation of superior passive layer at the surface, improving corrosion resistance. The nanotextured SS316L offers significant potential for medical applications based on the surface structure-induced reduction of bacterial adhesion without use of antibiotic or chemical modifications while providing cytocompatibility and corrosion resistance in physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeongseon Jang
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Won Tae Choi
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
- School of Material Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 500 10th Street, Northwest, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Christopher T Johnson
- Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Andrés J García
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, 315 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Preet M Singh
- School of Material Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 500 10th Street, Northwest, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Victor Breedveld
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Dennis W Hess
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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34
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Herrera Estrada L, Wu H, Ling K, Zhang G, Sumagin R, Parkos CA, Jones RM, Champion JA, Neish AS. Bioengineering Bacterially Derived Immunomodulants: A Therapeutic Approach to Inflammatory Bowel Disease. ACS Nano 2017; 11:9650-9662. [PMID: 28872828 PMCID: PMC7653663 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.7b03239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial enteric pathogens have evolved efficient mechanisms to suppress mammalian inflammatory and immunoregulatory pathways. By exploiting the evolutionary relationship between the gut and pathogenic bacteria, we have developed a potential mucosal therapeutic. Our findings suggest that engineered preparations of the Salmonella acetyltransferase, AvrA, suppress acute inflammatory responses such as those observed in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We created 125 nm diameter cross-linked protein nanoparticles directly from AvrA and carrier protein to deliver AvrA in the absence of Salmonella. AvrA nanoparticles are internalized in vitro and in vivo into barrier epithelial and lamina propria monocytic cells. AvrA nanoparticles inhibit inflammatory signaling and confer cytoprotection in vitro, and in murine colitis models, we observe decreased clinical and histological indices of inflammation. Thus, we have combined naturally evolved immunomodulatory proteins with modern bioengineering to produce AvrA nanoparticles, a potential treatment for IBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Herrera Estrada
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Huixia Wu
- Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Whitehead Bldg., 615 Michael Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Kevin Ling
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Guikai Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Whitehead Bldg., 615 Michael Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Ronen Sumagin
- Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Whitehead Bldg., 615 Michael Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Charles A. Parkos
- Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Whitehead Bldg., 615 Michael Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Rheinallt M. Jones
- Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Whitehead Bldg., 615 Michael Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Julie A. Champion
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
- Corresponding Authors: Phone: 404-894-2874. . Phone: 404-727-8545.
| | - Andrew S. Neish
- Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Whitehead Bldg., 615 Michael Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
- Corresponding Authors: Phone: 404-894-2874. . Phone: 404-727-8545.
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35
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Jang Y, Choi WT, Heller WT, Ke Z, Wright ER, Champion JA. Engineering Globular Protein Vesicles through Tunable Self-Assembly of Recombinant Fusion Proteins. Small 2017; 13. [PMID: 28748658 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201700399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2017] [Revised: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Vesicles assembled from folded, globular proteins have potential for functions different from traditional lipid or polymeric vesicles. However, they also present challenges in understanding the assembly process and controlling vesicle properties. From detailed investigation of the assembly behavior of recombinant fusion proteins, this work reports a simple strategy to engineer protein vesicles containing functional, globular domains. This is achieved through tunable self-assembly of recombinant globular fusion proteins containing leucine zippers and elastin-like polypeptides. The fusion proteins form complexes in solution via high affinity binding of the zippers, and transition through dynamic coacervates to stable hollow vesicles upon warming. The thermal driving force, which can be tuned by protein concentration or temperature, controls both vesicle size and whether vesicles are single or bi-layered. These results provide critical information to engineer globular protein vesicles via self-assembly with desired size and membrane structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeongseon Jang
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Won Tae Choi
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - William T Heller
- Biology and Soft Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P.O. Box 2008, MS-6473, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Zunlong Ke
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Elizabeth R Wright
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
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36
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Deng L, Kim JR, Chang TZ, Zhang H, Mohan T, Champion JA, Wang BZ. Protein nanoparticle vaccine based on flagellin carrier fused to influenza conserved epitopes confers full protection against influenza A virus challenge. Virology 2017. [PMID: 28622575 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2017.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Currently marketed influenza vaccines only confer protection against matching influenza virus strains. The influenza A composition of these vaccines needs to be annually updated. Vaccines that target conserved epitopes of influenza viruses would in principle offer broad cross-protection against influenza A viruses. In our study, we investigated the specific immune responses and protective efficacy of protein nanoparticles based on fusion proteins of flagellin carrier linked to conserved influenza epitopes. We designed fusion proteins by replacing the hyperimmunogenic region of flagellin (FliC) with four tandem copies of the ectodomain of matrix protein 2 (f4M2e), H1 HA2 domain (fHApr8) or H3 HA2 domain (fHAaichi). Protein nanoparticles fabricated from these fusion proteins by using DTSSP crosslinking retained Toll-like receptor 5 agonist activity of FliC. Intranasal immunization with f4M2e, f4M2e/fHApr8 or f4M2e/fHAaichi nanoparticles induced vaccine antigen-specific humoral immune responses. It was also found that the incorporation of the H1 HA2 domain into f4M2e/fHApr8 nanoparticles boosted M2e specific antibody responses. Immunized mice were fully protected against lethal doses of virus challenge.
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MESH Headings
- Administration, Intranasal
- Animals
- Antibodies, Viral/blood
- Disease Models, Animal
- Drug Carriers/metabolism
- Epitopes/genetics
- Epitopes/immunology
- Flagellin/genetics
- Flagellin/metabolism
- Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus/genetics
- Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus/immunology
- Influenza Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Influenza Vaccines/genetics
- Influenza Vaccines/immunology
- Mice
- Nanoparticles
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections/prevention & control
- Protein Binding
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/immunology
- Survival Analysis
- Toll-Like Receptor 5/metabolism
- Vaccines, Subunit/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Subunit/genetics
- Vaccines, Subunit/immunology
- Vaccines, Synthetic/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Synthetic/genetics
- Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology
- Viral Matrix Proteins/genetics
- Viral Matrix Proteins/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Deng
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Georgia State University Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jong R Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Timothy Z Chang
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Han Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Teena Mohan
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Georgia State University Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Julie A Champion
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Bao-Zhong Wang
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Georgia State University Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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37
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Chang TZ, Diambou I, Kim JR, Wang B, Champion JA. Host- and pathogen-derived adjuvant coatings on protein nanoparticle vaccines. Bioeng Transl Med 2017; 2:120-130. [PMID: 28516165 PMCID: PMC5412930 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Revised: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 12/03/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Nanoparticulate and molecular adjuvants have shown great efficacy in enhancing immune responses, and the immunogenic vaccines of the future will most likely contain both. To investigate the immunostimulatory effects of molecular adjuvants on nanoparticle vaccines, we have designed ovalbumin (OVA) protein nanoparticles coated with two different adjuvants-flagellin (FliC) and immunoglobulin M (IgM). These proteins, derived from Salmonella and mice, respectively, are representatives of pathogen- and host-derived molecules that can enhance immune responses. FliC-coated OVA nanoparticles, soluble FliC (sFliC) admixed with OVA nanoparticles, IgM-coated nanoparticles, and OVA-coated nanoparticles were assessed for immunogenicity in an in vivo mouse immunization study. IgM coatings on nanoparticles significantly enhanced both antibody and T cell responses, and promoted IgG2a class switching but not affinity maturation. FliC-coated nanoparticles and FliC-admixed with nanoparticles both triggered IgG2a class switching, but only FliC-coated nanoparticles enhanced antibody affinity maturation. Our findings that affinity maturation and class switching can be directed independently of one another suggest that adjuvant coatings on nanoparticles can be tailored to generate specific vaccine effector responses against different classes of pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Z. Chang
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA 30332
| | - Ishatou Diambou
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA 30332
| | - Jong Rok Kim
- Institute for Biomedical SciencesGeorgia State UniversityAtlantaGA 30332
| | - Baozhong Wang
- Institute for Biomedical SciencesGeorgia State UniversityAtlantaGA 30332
| | - Julie A. Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA 30332
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38
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Garapaty A, Champion JA. Tunable particles alter macrophage uptake based on combinatorial effects of physical properties. Bioeng Transl Med 2017; 2:92-101. [PMID: 29313025 PMCID: PMC5689517 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Revised: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to tune phagocytosis of particle-based therapeutics by macrophages can enhance their delivery to macrophages or reduce their phagocytic susceptibility for delivery to non-phagocytic cells. Since phagocytosis is affected by the physical and chemical properties of particles, it is crucial to identify any interplay between physical properties of particles in altering phagocytic interactions. The combinatorial effect of physical properties size, shape and stiffness was investigated on Fc receptor mediated macrophage interactions by fabrication of layer-by-layer tunable particles of constant surface chemistry. Our results highlight how changing particle stiffness affects phagocytic interaction intricately when combined with varying size or shape. Increase in size plays a dominant role over reduction in stiffness in reducing internalization by macrophages for spherical particles. Internalization of rod-shaped, but not spherical particles, was highly dependent on stiffness. These particles demonstrate the interplay between size, shape and stiffness in interactions of Fc-functionalized particles with macrophages during phagocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anusha Garapaty
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular EngineeringGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA30332
| | - Julie A. Champion
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular EngineeringGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA30332
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39
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Abstract
Nanoparticle vaccine delivery platforms are a promising technology for enhancing vaccine immunogenicity. Protein nanoparticles (PNPs), made entirely from antigen, have been shown to induce protective immune responses against influenza. However, the fundamental mechanisms by which PNPs enhance component protein immunogenicity are not understood. Here, we investigate the role of size and coating of model ovalbumin (OVA) PNPs on particle uptake and trafficking, as well as on inflammation and maturation factor expression in dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro. OVA PNPs enhance antigen uptake in a size-independent manner, and experience attenuated endosomal acidification as compared to soluble OVA. OVA PNPs also trigger Fc receptor upregulation. Expression of cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α were PNP size- and coating-dependent, with small (∼270 nm) nanoparticles triggering greater inflammatory cytokine production than large (∼560 nm) particles. IL-1β expression by DCs in response to PNP stimulation implies activation of the inflammasome, a pathway known to be activated by certain types of nanoparticulate adjuvants. The attenuated acidification and pro-inflammatory profile generated by PNPs in DCs demonstrate that physical biomaterial properties can modulate dendritic cell-mediated antigen processing and adjuvancy. In addition to nanoparticles' enhancement of DC antigen uptake, our work suggests that vaccine nanoparticle size and coating are uptake-independent modulators of immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Z Chang
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
| | - Samantha S Stadmiller
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
| | - Erika Staskevicius
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
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40
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Lim SI, Lukianov CI, Champion JA. Self-assembled protein nanocarrier for intracellular delivery of antibody. J Control Release 2017; 249:1-10. [PMID: 28069555 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2017.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2016] [Revised: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Despite the great potential of antibodies as intracellular therapeutics, there is a significant, unmet challenge in delivering sufficient amounts of folded antibodies inside cells. We describe an all-protein self-assembled nanocarrier capable of delivering functional antibodies to the cytosol. By combining an α-helical peptide that self-assembles into a hexameric coiled-coil bundle and an Fc-binding Protein A fragment, we generated the Hex nanocarrier that is efficiently internalized by cells without cytotoxicity. Localization of multiple Fc-binding domains on the hexameric core allowed the Hex nanocarrier to tightly bind antibody with sub-nanomolar affinity regardless of pH and the antibody's originating species. The size of the Hex nanocarrier ranges from 25 to 35nm depending on the antibody loading ratio. We demonstrated the capacity of the Hex nanocarrier to deliver functional antibodies to the cytosol by employing anti-β-tubulin or anti-nuclear pore complex antibody as cargo. The design of the Hex nanocarrier is modular, which enables functionalization beyond Fc-binding. We exploited this feature to improve the cytosolic delivery efficiency of the Hex nanocarrier by addition of an endosomolytic motif to the core. The modified Hex nanocarrier exhibited similar antibody-binding behavior, but delivered more antibodies to their cytosolic targets at a faster rate. This work demonstrates an efficient intracellular antibody delivery platform with significant advantages over existing approaches as it does not require modification of the antibody, is biodegradable, and has an antibody to carrier mass ratio of 13, which is greater than other reported antibody carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung In Lim
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States
| | - Cyril I Lukianov
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States.
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Wang L, Chang TZ, He Y, Kim JR, Wang S, Mohan T, Berman Z, Tompkins SM, Tripp RA, Compans RW, Champion JA, Wang BZ. Coated protein nanoclusters from influenza H7N9 HA are highly immunogenic and induce robust protective immunity. Nanomedicine 2017; 13:253-262. [PMID: 27622321 PMCID: PMC5237404 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2016.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2016] [Revised: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 09/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Recurring influenza viruses pose an annual threat to public health. A time-saving, cost-effective and egg-independent influenza vaccine approach is important particularly when responding to an emerging pandemic. We fabricated coated, two-layer protein nanoclusters from recombinant trimeric hemagglutinin from an avian-origin H7N9 influenza A virus as an approach for vaccine development in response to an emerging pandemic. Assessment of the virus-specific immune responses and protective efficacy in mice immunized with the nanoclusters demonstrated that the vaccine candidates were highly immunogenic, able to induce protective immunity and long-lasting humoral antibody responses to this virus without the use of adjuvants. Because the advantages of the highly immunogenic coated nanoclusters also include rapid productions in an egg-independent system, this approach has great potential for influenza vaccine production not only in response to an emerging pandemic, but also as a replacement for conventional seasonal influenza vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Timothy Z Chang
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Yuan He
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Jong R Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Shelly Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Teena Mohan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Georgia State University Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Zachary Berman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Georgia State University Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - S Mark Tompkins
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - Ralph A Tripp
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - Richard W Compans
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Julie A Champion
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Bao-Zhong Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Georgia State University Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Padmore T, Stark C, Turkevich LA, Champion JA. Quantitative analysis of the role of fiber length on phagocytosis and inflammatory response by alveolar macrophages. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2016; 1861:58-67. [PMID: 27784615 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2016.09.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2016] [Revised: 07/16/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the lung, macrophages attempt to engulf inhaled high aspect ratio pathogenic materials, secreting inflammatory molecules in the process. The inability of macrophages to remove these materials leads to chronic inflammation and disease. How the biophysical and biochemical mechanisms of these effects are influenced by fiber length remains undetermined. This study evaluates the role of fiber length on phagocytosis and molecular inflammatory responses to non-cytotoxic fibers, enabling development of quantitative length-based models. METHODS Murine alveolar macrophages were exposed to short and long populations of JM-100 glass fibers, produced by successive sedimentation and repeated crushing, respectively. Interactions between fibers and macrophages were observed using time-lapse video microscopy, and quantified by flow cytometry. Inflammatory biomolecules (TNF-α, IL-1α, COX-2, PGE2) were measured. RESULTS Uptake of short fibers occurred more readily than for long, but long fibers were more potent stimulators of inflammatory molecules. Stimulation resulted in dose-dependent secretion of inflammatory biomolecules but no cytotoxicity or strong ROS production. Linear cytokine dose-response curves evaluated with length-dependent potency models, using measured fiber length distributions, resulted in identification of critical fiber lengths that cause frustrated phagocytosis and increased inflammatory biomolecule production. CONCLUSION Short fibers played a minor role in the inflammatory response compared to long fibers. The critical lengths at which frustrated phagocytosis occurs can be quantified by fitting dose-response curves to fiber distribution data. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE The single physical parameter of length can be used to directly assess the contributions of length against other physicochemical fiber properties to disease endpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trudy Padmore
- Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States
| | - Carahline Stark
- Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States
| | | | - Julie A Champion
- Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States.
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Abstract
Proteins are potent molecules that can be used as therapeutics, sensors, and biocatalysts with many advantages over small-molecule counterparts due to the specificity of their activity based on their amino acid sequence and folded three-dimensional structure. However, they also have significant limitations in their stability, localization, and recovery when used in soluble form. These opportunities and challenges have motivated the creation of materials from such functional proteins in order to protect and present them in a way that enhances their function. We have designed functional recombinant fusion proteins capable of self-assembling into materials with unique structures that maintain or improve the functionality of the protein. Fusion of either a functional protein or an assembly domain to a leucine zipper domain makes the materials design strategy modular, based on the high affinity between leucine zippers. The self-assembly domains, including elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) and defined-sequence random coil polypeptides, can be fused with a leucine zipper motif in order to promote assembly of the fusion proteins into larger structures upon specific stimuli such as temperature and ionic strength. Fusion of other functional domains with the counterpart leucine zipper motif endows the self-assembled materials with protein-specific functions such as fluorescence or catalytic activity. In this Account, we describe several examples of materials assembled from functional fusion proteins as well as the structural characterization, functionality, and understanding of the assembly mechanism. The first example is zipper fusion proteins containing ELPs that assemble into particles when introduced to a model extracellular matrix and subsequently disassemble over time to release the functional protein for drug delivery applications. Under different conditions, the same fusion proteins can self-assemble into hollow vesicles. The vesicles display a functional protein on the surface and can also carry protein, small-molecule, or nanoparticle cargo in the vesicle lumen. To create a material with a more complex hierarchical structure, we combined calcium phosphate with zipper fusion proteins containing random coil polypeptides to produce hybrid protein-inorganic supraparticles with high surface area and porous structure. The use of a functional enzyme created supraparticles with the ability to degrade inflammatory cytokines. Our characterization of these protein materials revealed that the molecular interactions are complex because of the large size of the protein building blocks, their folded structures, and the number of potential interactions including hydrophobic interactions, electrostatic interactions, van der Waals forces, and specific affinity-based interactions. It is difficult or even impossible to predict the structures a priori. However, once the basic assembly principles are understood, there is opportunity to tune the material properties, such as size, through control of the self-assembly conditions. Our future efforts on the fundamental side will focus on identifying the phase space of self-assembly of these fusion proteins and additional experimental levers with which to control and tune the resulting materials. On the application side, we are investigating an array of different functional proteins to expand the use of these structures in both therapeutic protein delivery and biocatalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeongseon Jang
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Julie A. Champion
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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Park WM, Champion JA. Colloidal Assembly of Hierarchically Structured Porous Supraparticles from Flower-Shaped Protein-Inorganic Hybrid Nanoparticles. ACS Nano 2016; 10:8271-80. [PMID: 27552189 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.6b01003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Mimicry of biomineralization is an attractive strategy to fabricate nanostructured hybrid materials. While biomineralization involves processes that organize hybrid clusters into complex structures with hierarchy, arrangement of artificial components in biomimetic approaches has been challenging. Here, we demonstrate self-assembly of hierarchically structured porous supraparticles from protein-inorganic hybrid flower-shaped (FS) nanoparticle building blocks. In our strategy, the FS nanoparticles self-assemble via high valency interactions in combination with interfacial adsorption and compression. The flower-like shape directed robust assembly of the FS nanoparticles into chain-like clusters in solution, which were further assembled into spherical supraparticles during rotation of FS nanoparticle solution. Continuously expanding and contracting the air-water interface during rotation catalyzed assembly of FS nanoparticle clusters, indicating that adsorption and compression of the building blocks at the interface were critical. The resulting supraparticles contain hierarchical pores which are translated from the structural characteristics of individual FS nanoparticle building blocks. The protein-inorganic supraparticles are protein-compatible, have large surface area, and provide specific affinity recognition for robust protein immobilization. A variety of functional proteins could be immobilized to the porous supraparticles, making it a general platform that could provide benefits for many applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won Min Park
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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45
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Herrera Estrada
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Trudy J. Padmore
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Julie A. Champion
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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Abstract
The strategies of pathogens to evade the human immune system are highly sophisticated and modulate a variety of inflammatory pathways. The similarities in the demands for modulation of inflammatory responses during disease treatment and during pathogenic infection provide opportunities to use pathogenic virulence factors to develop a new class of therapeutic materials that control inflammation. In this work, we harness a strategy from Porphyromonas gingivalis by transforming its major virulence factor, an arginine-specific cysteine protease, into self-assembled protease-inorganic hybrid supraparticles. The cysteine protease degrades the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). It is an irreversible inhibition of TNF-α, which avoids some of the adverse effects of current TNF-α antagonists. We fabricated self-assembled porous supraparticles that specifically incorporate the pathogen-derived protease and showed improved inactivation of TNF-α over soluble enzyme, creating a potential therapeutic for various autoimmune diseases or other sources of inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won Min Park
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
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47
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Garapaty A, Champion JA. Biomimetic and synthetic interfaces to tune immune responses. Biointerphases 2015; 10:030801. [PMID: 26178262 PMCID: PMC4506308 DOI: 10.1116/1.4922798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2015] [Revised: 06/06/2015] [Accepted: 06/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Organisms depend upon complex intercellular communication to initiate, maintain, or suppress immune responses during infection or disease. Communication occurs not only between different types of immune cells, but also between immune cells and nonimmune cells or pathogenic entities. It can occur directly at the cell-cell contact interface, or indirectly through secreted signals that bind cell surface molecules. Though secreted signals can be soluble, they can also be particulate in nature and direct communication at the cell-particle interface. Secreted extracellular vesicles are an example of native particulate communication, while viruses are examples of foreign particulates. Inspired by communication at natural immunological interfaces, biomimetic materials and designer molecules have been developed to mimic and direct the type of immune response. This review describes the ways in which native, biomimetic, and designer materials can mediate immune responses. Examples include extracellular vesicles, particles that mimic immune cells or pathogens, and hybrid designer molecules with multiple signaling functions, engineered to target and bind immune cell surface molecules. Interactions between these materials and immune cells are leading to increased understanding of natural immune communication and function, as well as development of immune therapeutics for the treatment of infection, cancer, and autoimmune disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anusha Garapaty
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Dr. NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Dr. NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332
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Abstract
Polyelectrolyte capsules (PECs) are a promising delivery system that has the ability to carry a large payload of a variety of cargoes. Controlling PEC properties is critical to understanding and tuning their cellular uptake efficiency, kinetics, and mechanism as well as their biodistribution in the body. The lack of a method to independently engineer PEC size, shape, and chemistry impedes both basic understanding of how physicochemical parameters affect PEC behavior in drug delivery and other applications, and the ability to optimize parameters for best function. Here, we report the successful fabrication of PECs having constant surface chemistry with independently controlled size and shape by combining soft organic templates created by the particle stretching method and a modified layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition process. Changing the template dispersion solution during LBL deposition from water to ethanol allowed us to overcome previous issues with organic templates, such as aggregation and template removal. These results will contribute not only to the basic study of the role of capsule shape and size on its function but also to the optimization of capsule properties for drug or imaging carriers, sensors, reactors, and other applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingjie Zan
- ‡Institute of Biomaterials and Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Chashan University Town, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325035, PR China
- §Wenzhou Institute of Biomaterials and Engineering, 16 Xinsan Rd Hi-tech Industry Park, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325011, PR China
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Garapaty A, Champion JA. Non-covalent phosphorylcholine coating reduces protein adsorption and phagocytic uptake of microparticles. Chem Commun (Camb) 2015; 51:13814-7. [DOI: 10.1039/c5cc03459k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Phosphorylcholine co-polymer was assembled on model polystyrene microparticles through a simple, widely-applicable ethanol coating process. The coating rendered particles resistant to protein adsorption and phagocytosis by macrophages, making it useful for a range of biological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anusha Garapaty
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Atlanta
- USA
| | - Julie A. Champion
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Atlanta
- USA
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50
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Affiliation(s)
- Won Min Park
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Julie A. Champion
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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