Immunostimulatory DNA Nanogel Enables Effective Lymphatic Drainage and High Vaccine Efficacy

Abstract

Effective adjuvants that enhance immune responses have great potential for vaccine development and disease prevention. A major challenge is the effective delivery of vaccine component to specific cellular populations in lymph nodes to boost immune response. Here, immunostimulatory DNA nanogel is designed and self-assembled with applicable size for effective lymphatic drainage and high vaccine efficacy. The efficient lymph node accumulation, enhanced dendritic cell internalization, and sustained immune stimulus of such adjuvant formulation enable potent immune activation in vitro and in vivo. Vaccination with the DNA nanogel adjuvanted OVA inhibits tumor growth and amplifies the efficacy of immunotherapy. These data indicate that programming DNA nanomaterials provides an applicable strategy for adjuvant and vaccine development. DNA nanotechnology may offer promising nanoplatforms for innovative combination immunotherapies and more therapeutic strategies.