Biodegradable particles that teach the immune system to tolerate self-antigens
Biodegradable polymeric microparticles comprised of acetalated dextran induce immune tolerance
This project looks at whether biodegradable acetalated-dextran particles carrying disease-related proteins can teach the immune system to stop attacking the body in autoimmune diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11232353 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would hear about a new lab-made particle made from a biodegradable polymer called acetalated dextran (Ace-DEX) that sticks to B cells and prompts them to produce a calming immune signal (IL-10). The team makes these particles by a spray-drying method and loads them with disease-related proteins so the immune system learns to tolerate those proteins instead of attacking them. In mice with a model of multiple sclerosis, particles carrying a myelin protein lowered disease scores, showing the approach can reduce autoimmune damage in animals. The work is preclinical now and done at UNC Chapel Hill, with the hope of developing a targeted treatment that avoids broad immunosuppression.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal future trial candidates would be people with autoimmune diseases in which the triggering self-antigen is known or can be targeted, such as certain forms of multiple sclerosis tied to specific myelin proteins.
Not a fit: People with autoimmune conditions driven by unknown or many different antigens, or those needing immediate treatment, are unlikely to benefit from this preclinical work right now.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If this approach translates to people, it could provide antigen-specific tolerance that reduces autoimmune attacks while sparing the rest of the immune system from broad suppression.
How similar studies have performed: Related nanoparticle and peptide-based antigen-specific tolerance approaches have shown benefit in animal models, but clinical success in humans has been limited and this Ace-DEX biomaterial approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ainslie, Kristy M — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Ainslie, Kristy M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.