Synthetic Polymeric Mixed Micelles Targeting Lymph Nodes Trigger Enhanced Cellular and Humoral Immune Responses

It has been widely accepted that lymph nodes (LNs) are critical targets of cancer vaccines because antigen presentation and initiation of T-cell-mediated immune responses occur primarily at these locations. In this study, amphiphilic diblock copolymer poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-poly(d,l-lactide) (PEOz-PLA) combined with carboxylterminated-Pluronic F127 was used to construct mixed micelles [carboxylated-nanoparticles (NPs)] for codelivery of antigen ovalbumin (OVA) and Toll-like receptor-7 agonist CL264 (carboxylated-NPs/OVA/CL264) to the LN-resident dendritic cells (DCs). The results showed that the small, sub-60 nm size of the self-assembled mixed micelles enables them to rapidly penetrate into lymphatic vessels and reach draining lymph nodes after subcutaneous injection. Furthermore, the surface modification with carboxylic groups imparted the carboxylated-NPs with endocytic receptor-targeting ability, allowing for DC internalization of carboxylated-NPs/OVA/CL264 via the scavenger receptor-mediated pathw...