In vitro study on the immunomodulatory effects of poly-¿-caprolactone-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate nanoparticles incorporated with EGFRvIII peptide in peripheral blood mononuclear cells

• Grant number: 25/11186-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Fabiana Testa Moura de Carvalho Vicentini
• Grantee: Juliana Covolo Marques
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Antitumor vaccine is a promising strategy for cancer treatment by using tumor antigens capable of activating and/or enhancing the individual's immune system. However, it is necessary to identify suitable tumor antigens and overcome the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment to generate the desired immune response. The epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII) is associated with tumorigenicity due to increased cell proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis, with a high incidence rate in patients with melanoma, glioblastoma and breast cancer. Because it is rarely expressed by normal cells, the use of the mutated extracellular portion of EGFR can be applied as a tumor-specific antigen in peptide vaccines. However, peptide and other subunit vaccines, by themselves, often have lower immunogenicity and shorter durations of immune response compared to live vector or protein-based vaccines, requiring the use of adjuvants and/or delivery systems for optimal efficacy. Thus, peptide-based vaccine platforms include the association of an immunoadjuvant with the peptide and/or its incorporation into a specific delivery system. This project proposes the characterization and evaluation of the interaction with peripheral blood mononuclear cells of nanoparticles based on poly-¿-caprolactone and D-¿-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate incorporating the EGFRvIII peptide antigen. Its development will contribute to in vitro evaluation studies of the impact of nanostructured systems on the profile and immune response generated, directing and enabling development aspects before their in vivo evaluation, contributing to a topic that deserves to be better explored and better elucidated. (AU)