Development of novel depot-forming bioabsorbable recombinant elastomers for immunoresponse augmentation

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26460050
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Physical pharmacy
• Research Institution: St. Marianna University School of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Asai Daisuke 聖マリアンナ医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (10423485)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): KATAYAMA Yoshiki 九州大学, 工学部, 教授 (70284528)
• Research Collaborator: MOROKUMA Kazunori ; SHIBAYAMA Keigo
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 薬物デポ / 生体材料 / DDS / 注射ゲル / 徐放 / エラスチン / ワクチン抗原

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The frequency of administration of antigen must be done for enhanced immunoresponses to repeated exposures to the same antigens. In the context of vaccine compliance, versatile prolonged-release antigen delivery platforms with single injection are needed. We approached this issue by in situ formation of antigen-containing implants using recombinant protein polymer hydrogels, and demonstrate its utility as an injectable antigen depot capable of sustained release of tetanus toxoid. The novelty of this work stems from the genetically encoded design of these peptide polymers, which enables key molecular parameters that control the properties of the hydrogel to be precisely specified at the genetic level for antigens. Our hydrogel system may hold the promise of tailor-made long-lasting depot systems for a variety of antigens, aiming to design single-injection-type of vaccines.

Free Research Field

生物化学