Gold nanoparticle virus-like particles presenting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein: Synthesis, biophysical properties and immunogenicity in BALB/c mice

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 funct...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Salazar, Vivian A., Comenge, Joan, Suárez-López, Rosa, Burger, Judith A., Sanders, Rogier W., Bastús, Neus G., Jaime, Carlos, Joseph-Munne, Joan, Puntes, Víctor F.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2024
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/365146
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/365146
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Virus-like particles (VLPs)
Gold nanoparticles
Spike protein SARS-CoV-2
SARS-CoV-2 vaccine
Descripción
Sumario: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 antigendelivery system for protein-based vaccines targeting a broad spectrum of infectious diseases and other emergent viruses