A shared N-terminal hydrophobic tail for the formation of nanoparticulates. (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Xiao; Wang, Kaihang; Lin, Qingshan; Zheng, Minghua; Li, Qiong; Li, Tingting; Hong, Qiyang; Zheng, Qingbing; Yu, Hai; Gu, Ying; Li, Shaowei; Xia, Ningshao
• Is Part Of: Nanomedicine. Volume 11:Number 17(2016)
• Page Start: 2289
• Page End: 2303
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: hydrophobic tail -- immunogenicity -- particulate formation -- protein-based nanoparticle -- vaccine design; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Medical technology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Therapeutic use -- Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2016-0146
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-5889

Abstract

Aim: Nanoparticulate design is important for the production of nanotechnological materials and passive immunogens. Using lessons from our hepatitis E vaccine, we herein design protein-based nanoparticles through incorporation of an N-terminal hydrophobic tail (NHT, located on HEV ORF2 aa368–460).Materials & methods: Flu HA1, HIV gp41/gp120/p24, HBsAg and HPV16 L2 were fused with NHT, expressed in Escherichia coli and subjected to self-assembly in vitro . Nanosized particles were characterized by size-exclusion chromatography and negative electron microscopy. Immunogenicity was assessed in mice.Results: All the NHT-fused proteins spontaneously formed nanoparticulates and presented with immunogenicity approximately 2-log over their nonassembling forms.Conclusion: Protein self-assembly provides an attractive means to create nanosized particles that bear specific antigens. Our strategy outlines a novel and shared method for the design of immunogenic nanoparticles.