GelMA microneedle-loaded bio-derived nanovaccine shows therapeutic potential for gliomas.

in Science and technology of advanced materials by Deguang Qin, Wenyong Huang, Dengke Shen, Longyi Chong, Zeyu Yang, Boyang Wei, Xifeng Li, Ran Li, Wenchao Liu

TLDR

  • The study developed a vaccine that uses the skin's immune cells to fight against a type of brain tumor called glioma. The vaccine was made from tiny needles that were loaded with a special substance that helps the immune cells fight the tumor. The study found that the vaccine was effective in stopping the tumor from growing in mice. The study suggests that this vaccine could be used to treat glioma in humans.

Abstract

Glioma is the most common primary malignant tumor of the central nervous system in adults. Although immunotherapy, especially tumor vaccines, has made some progress in the treatment of gliomas compared with surgery and radiotherapy. However, the lack of specific or relevant tumor antigens severely limits the further development of tumor vaccines. Here, we report a bio-derived vaccine (TMV@CpG) derived from glioma cell membrane vesicles and carrying TLR9 agonist CpG as adjuvant, which was loaded onto the GelMA microneedle to obtain the microneedle vaccine (MN-TMV@CpG). Microneedle vaccine fully utilize the innate immune cells rich in the skin, inducing stronger cellular immune responses. In subcutaneous tumor models, MN-TMV@CpG reversed the immune-suppressing microenvironment of tumor, and effectively inhibited tumor progression. In an intracranial tumor model, MN-TMV@CpG significantly prolonged the survival duration and induced stronger immune memory responses in tumor bearing mice when combined with anti-PD1 mAb. These results suggest that bio-derived nanovaccines can be used as a potential antitumor immunotherapy strategy.

Overview

  • The study aims to develop a bio-derived vaccine (TMV@CpG) derived from glioma cell membrane vesicles and carrying TLR9 agonist CpG as adjuvant, which was loaded onto the GelMA microneedle to obtain the microneedle vaccine (MN-TMV@CpG).
  • The study utilizes the innate immune cells rich in the skin to induce stronger cellular immune responses by fully utilizing the microneedle vaccine.

Comparative Analysis & Findings

  • The study found that MN-TMV@CpG reversed the immune-suppressing microenvironment of tumor and effectively inhibited tumor progression in subcutaneous tumor models.

Implications and Future Directions

  • The study suggests that bio-derived nanovaccines can be used as a potential antitumor immunotherapy strategy.