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Ultra-small 1-2 nm gold nanoparticles (NP) were conjugated with a poorly-soluble peptide auto-antigen, associated with type 1 diabetes, to modify the peptide pharmacokinetics, following its intradermal delivery. Peptide distribution was characterized, in vivo, after delivery using either conventional intradermal injection or a hollow microneedle device. The poorly-soluble peptide was effectively presented in distant lymph nodes (LN), spleen and draining LN when conjugated to the nanoparticles, whereas peptide alone was only presented in the draining LN. By contrast, nanoparticle conjugation to a highly-soluble peptide did not enhance in vivo distribution. Transfer of both free peptide and peptide-NPs from the skin to LN was reduced in mice lacking lymphoid homing receptor CCR7, suggesting that both are actively transported by migrating dendritic cells to LN. Collectively, these data demonstrate that intradermally administered ultra-small gold nanoparticles can widen the distribution of poorly-soluble auto-antigenic peptides to multiple lymphoid organs, thus enhancing their use as potential therapeutics.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.nano.2020.102321

Type

Journal article

Journal

Nanomedicine

Publication Date

02/2021

Volume

32

Keywords

Autoantigen, Gold nanoparticles, Hydrophobic, Intradermal, Microneedle, Peptide, Amino Acid Sequence, Animals, Antigens, Cell Proliferation, Dendritic Cells, Gold, Injections, Intradermal, Metal Nanoparticles, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Transgenic, Needles, Peptides, Phenotype, Skin, Solubility, T-Lymphocytes