Cationic Nanostructures as Adjuvants for Vaccines

Spherical or discoidal lipid polymer nanostructures bearing cationic charges successfully adsorb a variety of oppositely charged antigens (Ag) such as proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, or oligonucleotides. This report provides instructions for the preparation and physical characterization of four different cationic nanostructures able to combine and deliver antigens to the immune system: (1) dioctadecyl dimethylammonium bromide (DODAB) bilayer fragments (DODAB BF); (2) polystyrene sulfate (PSS) nanoparticles (NPs) covered with one cationic dioctadecyl dimethylammonium bromide bilayer (DODAB) named (PSS/DODAB); (3) cationic NPs of biocompatible polymer poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) prepared by emulsion polymerization of the methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer in the presence of DODAB BF (PMMA/DODAB NPs); (4) antigen NPs (NPs) where the cationic polymer poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) (PDDA) directly combined at nontoxic and low dose with the antigen (Ag); when the oppositely charged model antigen is ovalbumin (OVA), NPs are named PDDA/OVA. These nanostructures provide adequate microenvironments for carrying and delivering antigens to the antigen-presenting cells of the immune system.

Fabrication of Polymerase Chain Reaction Plastic Lab-on-a-Chip Device for Rapid Molecular Diagnoses

Purpose:

We aim to fabricate a thermoplastic poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) Lab-on-a-Chip device to perform continuous- flow polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) for rapid molecular detection of foodborne pathogen bacteria.

Methods:

A miniaturized plastic device was fabricated by utilizing PMMA substrates mediated by poly(dimethylsiloxane) interfacial coating, enabling bonding under mild conditions, and thus avoiding the deformation or collapse of microchannels. Surface characterizations were carried out and bond strength was measured. The feasibility of the Lab-on-a-Chip device for performing on-chip PCR utilizing a lab-made, portable dual heater was evaluated. The results were compared with those obtained using a commercially available thermal cycler.

Results:

A PMMA Lab-on-a-Chip device was designed and fabricated for conducting PCR using foodborne pathogens as sample targets. A robust bond was established between the PMMA substrates, which is essential for performing miniaturized PCR on plastic. The feasibility of on-chip PCR was evaluated using Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Cronobacter condimenti, two worldwide foodborne pathogens, and the target amplicons were successfully amplified within 25 minutes.

Conclusions:

In this study, we present a novel design of a low-cost and high-throughput thermoplastic PMMA Lab-on-a-Chip device for conducting microscale PCR, and we enable rapid molecular diagnoses of two important foodborne pathogens in minute resolution using this device. In this regard, the introduced highly portable system design has the potential to enable PCR investigations of many diseases quickly and accurately.

Immune responses in DNA vaccine formulated with PMMA following immunization and after challenge with Leishmania major

Leishmaniasis is a major infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. Despite of many efforts toward vaccine against Leishmania no effective vaccine has been approved yet. DNA vaccines can generate more powerful and broad immune responses than conventional vaccines. In order to increase immunity, the DNA vaccine has been supplemented with adjuvant. In this study a new nano-vaccine containing TSA recombinant plasmid and poly(methylmethacrylate) nanoparticles (act as adjuvant) was designed and its immunogenicity tested on BALB/c mouse. After three intramuscular injection of nano-vaccine (100 μg), the recombinant TSA protein (20 μg) was injected subcutaneously. Finally as a challenge animals were infected by Leishmania major. After the last injection of nano-vaccine, after protein booster injection, and also after challenge, cellular immune and antibody responses were evaluated by ELISA method. The findings of this study showed the new nano-vaccine was capable of induction both cytokines secretion and specific antibody responses, but predominant Th1 immune response characterized by IFN-γ production compared to control groups. Moreover, results revealed that nano-vaccine was effective in reducing parasite burden in the spleen of Leishmania major-infected BALB/c mice. Base on results, current candidate vaccine has potency for further studies.