FURI | Summer 2021

Synthesis and Characterization of Immunomodulatory Microparticles for the Induction of Tolerance Against Dietary Antigens

Given that metabolism can control immune cell function1 and that the presentation of an antigen by anti-inflammatory dendritic cells can lead to the expansion of anti-inflammatory immune responses2, this project aims to synthesize and characterize alpha-ketoglutarate (aKG)-based microparticles (MPs) encapsulating a glycolytic inhibitor, PFK15, and dietary antigen, ovalbumin (OVA), for the eventual induction of tolerance against OVA in mice. This work utilized single and double emulsion techniques to create an average diameter of 1-2 μm spherical MPs with degradation capabilities for the steady release of aKG (demonstrated in previous lab publication1) and its encapsulates (demonstrated in this work).