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

Abstract
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. These novel materials have been demonstrated to effectively create an antigen depot, minimally impact antigen stability, and enhance the immune response to antigens (i.e., adjuvanticity) in mice. In this work, we investigated the safety and biocompatibility of the parent triblock Pluronic gels and the cationic PBC gels in mice. Histological analysis showed no injection site reactions and no damage to the liver or kidneys was observed upon administering the block copolymer formulations. However, the subcutaneous injection of a thermogelling Pluronic solution induced increased levels of lipids in the blood, with no further deleterious effects observed from the addition of the cationic outer blocks. This hyperlipidemia resolved within 30 days after the administration of the Pluronic formulation. To mitigate this adverse effect, the vaccine adjuvant formulations were modified by adding poly(vinyl alcohol), which allowed gelation, while reducing the amount of Pluronic in the formulation. This modified formulation abrogated the observed hyperlipidemia and no adverse effects were observed in the serum through biomarker analysis or at the injection site (i.e., inflammation) in comparison to the responses induced by administration of saline or incomplete Freund's adjuvant. These studies provide a foundation to developing these gels as adjuvants for next generation vaccines. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 107A: 1754-1762, 2019.
AuthorsJustin R Adams, Sujata Senapati, Shannon L Haughney, Michael J Wannemuehler, Balaji Narasimhan, Surya K Mallapragada
JournalJournal of biomedical materials research. Part A (J Biomed Mater Res A) Vol. 107 Issue 8 Pg. 1754-1762 (08 2019) ISSN: 1552-4965 [Electronic] United States
PMID30972906 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)
Copyright© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Chemical References
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Alum Compounds
  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Biomarkers
  • Gels
  • Hydrogels
  • Triglycerides
  • Vaccines
  • Poloxamer
  • aluminum sulfate
  • Polyvinyl Alcohol
  • Cholesterol
Topics
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic (pharmacology)
  • Alum Compounds (chemistry)
  • Animals
  • Biocompatible Materials (adverse effects)
  • Biomarkers (urine)
  • Cholesterol (blood)
  • Female
  • Gels (chemistry)
  • Hydrogels (chemistry)
  • Immunization
  • Inflammation (pathology)
  • Injections
  • Kidney Function Tests
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Organ Specificity
  • Poloxamer (chemical synthesis, chemistry)
  • Polyvinyl Alcohol (chemical synthesis, chemistry)
  • Temperature
  • Triglycerides (blood)
  • Vaccines (adverse effects)

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