| The aim of this study was to characterize an efficient nanoparticle (NP) vaccine delivery system based on gelatin, a biodegradable, natural polymer for delivery to DCs in vitro. Gelatin NPs were labeled by fluorescent probes tetramethylrhodamine conjugated dextran (TMR-dextran) or Texas Red X. Murine bone marrow-derived DCs were incubated with TMR-dextran either in soluble form or in NPs. Triple color confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) showed that gelatin NPs were phagocytosed by DCs and were localized in the cytoplasm, partly in lysosomes but not in the nucleus. Flow cytometry showed that NPs were efficiently taken up by DCs. Surface loading of immunomodulator on gelatin NPs was investigated using monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) and was efficiently loaded on gelatin NPs. These studies show that gelatin NPs are promising delivery systems for targeting macromolecules and immunomodulators to DCs and deserve further investigation as a vaccine delivery system. |
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