Development of a particulate platform system for autoimmune disease therapy

Dendritic cells are the most potent APCs and activate T cells by displaying antigen-major histocompatibility complexes (MHC) and co-stimulatory molecules on their surface. Evidently, immuno-modulation of T cell-suppressing dendritic cells could provide an avenue for therapeutic intervention of autoimmune disease. The IMBL is currently developing a polymeric microparticle system composing of: i.) DC-targeting phagocytosable MPs delivering antigen and drug to intracellular targets and ii.) Non-phagocytosable MPs to extracellularly deliver at the injection site, DC recruitment and immuno-suppressive biological factors could be used to manipulate the phenotype of dendritic cells, particularly for tolerance induction and dampening of pro-inflammatory responses, which would be desirable for autoimmune disease immunotherapy.