| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/H027092/1 |
| Title: |
Towards a new nanoparticle vaccine technology. Rational design of pathogen-mimicking nanoparticles for controlled immunostimulation. |
| Principal Investigator: |
Cellesi, Professor F |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Manchester Pharmacy School |
| Organisation: |
University of Manchester, The |
| Scheme: |
First Grant - Revised 2009 |
| Starts: |
16 August 2010 |
Ends: |
15 August 2011 |
Value (£): |
100,148
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Drug Formulation & Delivery |
Materials Characterisation |
| Materials Synthesis & Growth |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
| Panel Date | Panel Name | Outcome |
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02 Dec 2009
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Physical Sciences Panel - Materials
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Announced
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Traditional vaccination methods, consisting of live-attenuated or heat-killed pathogens administered to healthy individuals, have been highly successful in preventing and eradicating global diseases (including smallpox and poliomyelitis). However, preventive vaccination still remains elusive for many other diseases (including malaria, tuberculosis and HIV). Therapeutic vaccines, i.e. designed to cure patients who are already infected or ill, have shown promising results against cancer, autoimmune diseases, as well as HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis, although none of them are yet recognized as efficacious therapy in humans. Therefore, new vaccination strategies, based on a growing understanding of the immune activation mechanisms, are needed.The proposed study focuses on novel nanoparticle vaccines, based on a versatile and robust approach for producing nanomaterials composed of solid core of well defined physicochemical properties and a hydrophilic, immune-stimulating polymeric shell. Combining recent advances in nanotechnology with the requirements of novel vaccine design, this technology will allow the generation of new pathogen-mimicking nanoparticles, designed for specific antigen delivery and controlled immunostimulation.The core material properties will define the nanoparticle size, in vitro and in vivo traceability, degradability. The nanoparticle size can be varied to resemble that of a particular virus and, as recent studies revealed, size is a fundamental variable which affects a) the way nanoparticles (and viruses) enter cells and influence the cell functions, and b) the final vaccine localization and targeting, either in the peripheral tissue or in lymph nodes. The functional polymeric shell will be designed to incorporate the right sequence of chemical groups (saccharides, hydroxyl groups) which activate the innate immune system, as well as antigens to be displaced to the Antigen Presenting Cells. This new vaccine technology will be able to elicit the appropriate immune response, by combining an efficient antigen presentation with adjuvant functions, for a more specific immune regulation and less non-specific (adverse) immune activation.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.man.ac.uk |