A TLR7 Agonist Conjugated to a Nanofibrous Peptide Hydrogel as a Potent Vaccine Adjuvant.

ABSTRACT: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize pathogen- and damage-associated molecular patterns and, in turn, trigger the release of cytokines and other immunostimulatory molecules. As a result, TLR agonists are increasingly being investigated as vaccine adjuvants. Many of these agonists are small molecules that quickly diffuse away from the vaccination site, limiting their co-localization with antigens and, thus, their effect. Here, the small-molecule TLR7 agonist 1V209 is conjugated to a positively-charged multidomain peptide (MDP) hydrogel, K₂, which was previously shown to act as an adjuvant promoting humoral immunity. Mixing the 1V209-conjugated K₂ 50:50 with the unfunctionalized K₂ produces hydrogels that retain the shear-thinning and self-healing physical pr

SUBMITTER: Euliano EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11774675 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature