Journal of Vaccines & Vaccination

Parameters tuning and immunological evaluation of emulsion adjuvants issued from high-shear microfluidization process

4^th International conference on Vaccines, Vaccination and Immunization

August 18-19, 2023 | Webinar

Ming-Hsi Huang

PhD, NIIDV, NHRI, Taiwan

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Journal of Vaccines & Vaccination

Abstract:

Emulsion adjuvants are a potent tool for effective vaccination against infectious disease and cancer. Our research group was the pioneer who engineers amphiphilic bioresorbable copolymers as surfactants to bring on absorbable emulsion adjuvants in the pursuit of innovative vaccine design. To launch a clinical study of emulsion-adjuvanted vaccine, the major step is to prepare sufficient amounts of samples with consistent properties. Regarding this, we scaled up the adjuvant preparedness process from laboratory scale to small pilot scale with a microfluidizer. This apparatus equipped with interaction chamber which with fixed geometry orifice and micro-channels drives the formulation into homogenization chambers at high-shear fluid process, thus providing nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution. The process is reproducible, and the emulsified products can be easily scaled to small pilot scale. During COVID-19 pandemic, this platform was applied in COVID-19 vaccine studies. We investigated the immunological aspects of SARS-CoV-2 spike (S)-protein after being formulated with squalene nanoparticles (PELC) and/or CpG oligodeoxynucleotides. Following intramuscular injection in mice, our results indicate that one dose of PELC-adjuvanted S-protein works as well as repeated doses of S-protein alone. Following intranasal delivery in mice, our results indicate that PELC:CpG combination is a potential mucosal adjuvant that promotes mucosal/systemic immune responses and cell-mediated immunity. The generated information provides critical mechanistic insights into the adjuvanticity of nanoparticles and gives directions for designing an optimal vaccine formulation. Further studies from immunological insights will be focused on whether these novel compounds can turn on autoimmunity or immune tolerance

Biography :

Dr. Ming-Hsi Huang’s mission at NHRI is tasked with integrating immunology and material science to facilitate the development of vaccine formulation and delivery for manipulating effective/harmful immune responses. His research group (immunobioengineering lab, iBEL) has set up the platform technologies for vaccine formulation and delivery. Recently, he aimed to launch a mechanistic study on how new nanovesicles interacting with immune cells and progressively elucidate the role of manufacturing process as well as each ingredient linking with vaccine immunogenicity. He also extends these aspects to find an optimal vaccination route for vaccine and immunotherapy. Dr. Huang has published a series of articles in prestigious scientific journals and granted 5 inventions (total 13 grants of patent right in multiple countries). He also made contributions to provide consultation on academic affiliations and biotech companies to produce new-generation vaccine formulations and to investigate prospective mechanisms for vaccine/adjuvant.