RAFT/PISA based Ni-NTA polymeric particles for virus-mimetic influenza vaccines

Resource and time consuming difficult procedures involving the preparation of antigen surface functionalized nanoparticles mimicking viruses for optimum immunogenicity have been the challenges for their actual application. In this context, we developed stable polymeric particles functionalized with Ni2+-NTA via the combination of RAFT emulsion polymerization and polymerization-induced self-assembly (RAFT-PISA), and mixed with recombinant H1 tagged with hexa-histidine (His(6)-H1) for one day to prepare the influenza-mimetic polymeric particles. The RAFT-PISA based polymer particles exhibited good structural stability while the Ni2+-NTA-functionality provided a perfect docking site for the controlled orientation of His(6)-H1. The His(6)-H1 protein immobilization with Ni2+-NTA of the particle was studied with time. In addition, we investigated the immune response of the synthesized vaccine against influenza with varying the mixing time. We expect our system would open new avenues for preparation of influenza-mimetic vaccines like by mixing of a ready-made surface-functionalized particle and recombinant hemagglutinin. (C) 2020 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.