Rational vaccinology with spherical nucleic acids

Abstract

T cells and raise subsequent antitumor immune responses. Importantly, the most effective structure is the one that exhibits synchronization of maximum antigen presentation and costimulatory marker expression. In the human papillomavirus-associated TC-1 model, vaccination with this structure improved overall survival, induced the complete elimination of tumors from 30% of the mice, and conferred curative protection from tumor rechallenges, consistent with immunological memory not otherwise achievable. The antitumor effect of SNA vaccination is dependent on the method of antigen incorporation within the SNA structure, underscoring the modularity of this class of nanostructures and the potential for the deliberate design of new vaccines, thereby defining a type of rational cancer vaccinology.