PLGA from PolySciTech used as part of intranasal vaccine delivery system against group A streptococcus research

PolySciTech division of Akina, Inc (www.polyscitech.com) provides a wide array of biodegradable copolymers for research applications. Group A streptococcus is one cause of lethal rheumatic heart disease as well as other diseases. Intranasal delivery of LCP-1 vaccine is optimal for eliciting an effective immune response. Recently, researchers from The University of Queensland in Australia utilized PLGA from PolySciTech (PolyVivo cat# AP041) to generate vaccine loaded nanoparticles for nasal delivery. This research holds promise for improved vaccine effectiveness. Read more here: Marasini, Nirmal, Zeinab G. Khalil, Ashwini Kumar Giddam, Khairunnisa Abdul Ghaffar, Waleed M. Hussein, Robert J. Capon, Michael R. Batzloff, Michael F. Good, Mariusz Skwarczynski, and Istvan Toth. "Lipid core peptide/poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) as a highly potent intranasal vaccine delivery system against Group A streptococcus." International Journal of Pharmaceutics (2016). http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378517316308870

“Abstract: Rheumatic heart disease represents a leading cause of mortality caused by Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections transmitted through the respiratory route. Although GAS infections can be treated with antibiotics these are often inadequate. An efficacious GAS vaccine holds more promise, with intranasal vaccination especially attractive, as it mimics the natural route of infections and should be able to induce mucosal IgA and systemic IgG immunity. Nanoparticles were prepared by either encapsulating or coating lipopeptide-based vaccine candidate (LCP-1) on the surface of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). In vitro study showed that encapsulation of LCP-1 vaccine into nanoparticles improved uptake and maturations of antigen-presenting cells. The immunogenicity of lipopeptide incorporated PLGA-based nanoparticles was compared with peptides co-administered with mucosal adjuvant cholera toxin B in mice upon intranasal administration. Higher levels of J14-specific salivary mucosal IgA and systemic antibody IgG titres were observed for groups immunized with encapsulated LCP-1 compared to LCP-1 coated nanoparticles or free LCP-1. Systemic antibodies obtained from LCP-1 encapsulated PLGA NPs inhibited the growth of bacteria in six different GAS strains. Our results show that PLGA-based lipopeptide delivery is a promising approach for rational design of a simple, effective and patient friendly intranasal GAS vaccine resulting in mucosal IgA response. Keywords: Nanoparticles; Lipopeptides; PLGA; Vaccine; Mucosal immunology”