Panão-Costa João, Colaço Mariana, Jesus Sandra, Lebre Filipa, Cruz Maria T, Alfaro-Moreno Ernesto, Borges Olga
CNC-UC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal.
CIBB-Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal.
Pharmaceutics. 2025 Aug 8;17(8):1032. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics17081032.
: Glucan particles (GPs), derived from yeast, possess unique biomedical properties. Nevertheless, it is imperative that a comprehensive risk assessment is conducted during pre-clinical development. GPs are primarily constituted of a naturally occurring polymer known as β-glucan. This study characterized GPs, focusing on physicochemical attributes, biocompatibility, and immunomodulatory potential. : GPs were characterized for size, morphology, surface charge, and protein encapsulation efficiency using dynamic light scattering (DLS), electron microscopy, and encapsulation assays. Biocompatibility was assessed through cytotoxicity assays (MTT), hemolysis tests, and measurement of reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) production in immune cells. Immunomodulatory potential was evaluated by cytokine and chemokine secretion analysis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) and through in vivo immunization studies in a murine model, focusing on cellular immune responses. : GPs demonstrated stable physicochemical properties and efficient protein encapsulation, highlighting their suitability as vaccine delivery systems. They exhibited biocompatibility by not inducing cytotoxicity, hemolysis, or excessive ROS and NO production. In PBMCs, GPs stimulated cytokine secretion, suggesting their adjuvant potential. GPs were efficiently internalized by monocytes and led to specific chemokine secretion in stimulated moDCs. In a murine model, GPs induced distinctive cellular immune responses, including TNF-α and IFN-γ production and effector memory T cell activation. : These findings emphasize GPs' biocompatibility and immunomodulatory effects, highlighting their potential in immunotherapy and vaccine development, particularly for targeting infectious agents like hepatitis B virus.
葡聚糖颗粒（GPs）源自酵母，具有独特的生物医学特性。然而，在临床前开发过程中进行全面的风险评估是必不可少的。GPs主要由一种天然存在的聚合物β-葡聚糖构成。本研究对GPs进行了表征，重点关注其物理化学属性、生物相容性和免疫调节潜力。：使用动态光散射（DLS）、电子显微镜和包封测定法对GPs的大小、形态、表面电荷和蛋白质包封效率进行了表征。通过细胞毒性测定（MTT）、溶血试验以及免疫细胞中活性氧（ROS）和一氧化氮（NO）产生的测量来评估生物相容性。通过对外周血单核细胞（PBMCs）和单核细胞衍生的树突状细胞（moDCs）中的细胞因子和趋化因子分泌分析以及通过在小鼠模型中的体内免疫研究来评估免疫调节潜力，重点关注细胞免疫反应。：GPs表现出稳定的物理化学性质和高效的蛋白质包封，突出了它们作为疫苗递送系统的适用性。它们通过不诱导细胞毒性、溶血或过量的ROS和NO产生而表现出生物相容性。在PBMCs中，GPs刺激细胞因子分泌，表明它们具有佐剂潜力。GPs被单核细胞有效内化，并在受刺激的moDCs中导致特定趋化因子分泌。在小鼠模型中，GPs诱导独特的细胞免疫反应，包括TNF-α和IFN-γ的产生以及效应记忆T细胞的激活。：这些发现强调了GPs的生物相容性和免疫调节作用，突出了它们在免疫治疗和疫苗开发中的潜力，特别是针对乙型肝炎病毒等感染因子。
