Mapping Immune Signatures of Biomaterials

Introduction Vaccines have generated one of the largest impacts on human health in history, but there is a rising need for vaccines that are not only potent, but that also allow control over the specific nature of immune response. This idea is termed immunomodulation and refers to the ability to direct immune outcomes, for example, by generating polarized Th1 or Th2 function. Synthetic biomaterials offer opportunities to address immunological questions from new perspectives, and a few biomaterials (e.g., poly(lactide-co-glycolide), PLGA) are now known to exhibit intrinsic adjuvant properties. These polymers trigger “danger”/pathogen sensing pathways (e.g., inflammasomes, toll-like receptors) that control innate and adaptive immunity. Intriguingly, new studies suggest that links exist between structural properties (e.g., hydrophobicity, charge, molecular weight) and adjuvant activity. The goal of this project is to map structural elements of synthetic vaccine carriers that induce distinct sets of cytokines—“immune signatures”. This knowledge could allow design of all-in-one materials that serve both as carriers and adjuvants, and that generate responses tailored for particular diseases.