Biotin Nanoparticles as Immune Cell Activator and Protein Carrier

We provide data for a novel use of biotin as an activator of antigen presenting cells (APCs) while simultaneously serving as a carrier for biologics. Our system utilizes poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles with surface accessible biotin (bNPs) which will enable proteins to be co-localized with the bNPs through avidin. bNPs activated APCs in mono-cultures as well as eliciting a strong cytokine response in mixed lymphocyte cultures, in particular high IL-1β and IL-12, suggesting a T-helper type 1 (Th1) response. We further provide evidence this response is due to accessible surface biotin on bNPs. Using ovalbumin (OVA), we also demonstrate that our bNPs offer an advantage for lymphocyte response to antigens ex vivo, relative to antigen alone. bNPs were capable of co-localizing protein with the bNPs for 21 days in vivo in mouse footpads and was eliminated with pseudo-first order kinetics.