Safety and biocompatibility of injectable vaccine adjuvants composed of thermogelling block copolymer gels.

Injectable thermogelling polymers have been recently investigated as novel adjuvants and delivery systems for next generation vaccines. As research into natural and synthetic biocompatible polymers progresses, the safety and biocompatibility of these compounds is of paramount importance. We have developed cationic pentablock copolymer (PBC) vaccine adjuvants based on Pluronic F127, a thermogelling triblock copolymer that has been approved by the FDA for multiple applications, and methacrylated poly(diethyl amino)ethyl methacrylate outer blocks.

Vaccine technologies against avian influenza: current approaches and new directions.

The potential epidemiological human pandemic resulting from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has been studied extensively since the identification of the virus in the Guangdong province of China. The majority of research has focused on the unique and severe histopathological lesions induced by the virus. The severe pathological presentation of these infections has also prompted interest in identifying preventive and therapeutic approaches against HPAI.

Effective polymer adjuvants for sustained delivery of protein subunit vaccines.

We have synthesized thermogelling cationic amphiphilic pentablock copolymers that have the potential to act as injectable vaccine carriers and adjuvants that can simultaneously provide sustained delivery and enhance the immunogenicity of released antigen. While these pentablock copolymers have shown efficacy in DNA delivery in past studies, the ability to deliver both DNA and protein for subunit vaccines using the same polymeric carrier can provide greater flexibility and efficacy. We demonstrate the ability of these pentablock copolymers, and the parent triblock Pluronic copolymers to slowly release structurally intact and antigenically stable protein antigens in vitro, create an antigen depot through long-term injection-site persistence and enhance the in vivo immune response to these antigens.