Gold Nanoparticle Virus-like Particles Presenting SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein : Synthesis, Biophysical Properties and Immunogenicity in BALB/c Mice
Salazar, V. A. (Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR))
Comenge, Joan (Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR))
Suárez-López, Rosa (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Química)
Burger, Judith A. (Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC))
Sanders, Rogier W. (Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC))
Bastús, Neus G. (Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia)
Jaime Cardiel, Carlos (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Química)
Joseph-Munné, Joan (Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR))
Puntes, Víctor (Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR))

Date:	2024
Abstract:	Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) decorated with antigens have recently emerged as promising tools for vaccine development due to their innate ability to provide stability to antigens and modulate immune responses. In this study, we have engineered deactivated virus-like particles (VLPs) by precisely functionalizing gold cores with coronas comprising the full SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S). Using BALB/c mice as a model, we investigated the immunogenicity of these S-AuNPs-VLPs. Our results demonstrate that S-AuNPs-VLPs consistently enhanced antigen-specific antibody responses compared to the S protein free in solution. This enhancement included higher binding antibody titers, higher neutralizing capacity of antibodies, and stronger T-cell responses. Compared to the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, where the S protein is synthesized in situ, S-AuNPs-VLPs induced comparable binding and neutralizing antibody responses, but substantially superior T-cell responses. In conclusion, our study highlights the potential of conjugated AuNPs as an effective antigen-delivery system for protein-based vaccines targeting a broad spectrum of infectious diseases and other emergent viruses.
Grants:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación PCI2019-103436 Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2021/SGR-00878 Agencia Estatal de Investigación SEV-2017-0706
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Virus-like particles (VLPs) ; Gold nanoparticles ; Spike protein SARS-CoV-2 ; SARS-CoV-2 vaccine
Published in:	Vaccines (Basel), Vol. 12 (july 2024) , ISSN 2076-393X

DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12080829
PMID: 39203954

18 p, 11.3 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles