Adjuvanticity and toxicity of cobalt oxide nanoparticles as an alternative vaccine adjuvant.

Abstract

AIM:

There are very few adjuvants licensed for use in human vaccination, and alum-based adjuvants are the most widely used. Alum adjuvants predominantly boost Th2 immune responses and there is a need for new adjuvants that also stimulate Th1 immunity. We recently reported that cobalt oxide nanoparticles (Co(3)O(4)NPs) stimulate Th1-type immune responses in vivo. Here, we exploited this property to examine whether Co(3)O(4)NP could act as an adjuvant using the model antigen ovalbumin.

MATERIALS & METHODS:

Female C57BL/6 mice were immunized subcutaneously twice with ovalbumin plus adjuvant (Co(3)O(4)NPs or Imject® Alum) followed by intraperitoneal stimulation with soluble ovalbumin.

RESULTS:

Co(3)O(4)NPs induced a more balanced Th1- and Th2-type response, triggering higher specific Th1-dependent IgG2c production in addition to Th2-dependent IgG1 and less 'allergic' IgE production, and induced less inflammation at both the subcutaneous and intraperitoneal injection sites.

DISCUSSION:

Co(3)O(4)NPs could be a very useful adjuvant where both Th1 and Th2 responses are needed to clear pathogens.

• Authors: Wan-Seob Cho, Kenneth Dart, Dominika J Nowakowska, Xiaozhong Zheng, Ken Donaldson, Sarah E M Howie
• Journal: Nanomedicine (London, England) (Nanomedicine (Lond)) Vol. 7 Issue 10 Pg. 1495-505 (Oct 2012) ISSN: 1748-6963 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22812709 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Adjuvants, Immunologic
• Oxides
• Cobalt
• cobalt oxide

Topics

• Adjuvants, Immunologic (administration & dosage, toxicity)
• Animals
• Cell Line
• Cobalt (toxicity)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Female
• Metal Nanoparticles (toxicity)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Microscopy, Electron
• Oxides (toxicity)