Credit: J. Curtis/NIST
This figure shows one possible structure of the nanoparticles — about 30 nanometers from end to end, roughly 15 times a strand of DNA's width — analyzed in the study. Neutron and X-ray scattering allowed the particles to be visualized while in solution, as they would be when delivered to the body. The research revealed that each particle resembles a cylinder (red) made of lipids, with several protruding proteins (five in this case) that interact with our immune system. A better understanding of the particles' structure could clarify how the nanoparticles elicit a reaction from the immune system.
No approved vaccine exists for RSV, a life-threatening virus that attacks the respiratory system. State-of-the-art neutron and X-ray scattering performed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) may bring one closer to reality, as the results have clarified the structure of a tiny protein-based particle that is a candidate vaccine’s main functional ingredient.
The findings, published Dec. 15 in the journal Molecular Pharmaceutics, underscore the value of neutron methods for revealing the 3D shape and function of nanoparticles that can be useful as medicines. Understanding the structure of the prospective nanoparticle vaccine could provide important insights into how it functions inside the body. The research, conducted at the NIST Center for Neutron Research and Material Measurement Laboratory, could benefit both the further development of this candidate vaccine and a range of other medical treatments.
“Getting a faithful view of our vaccine nanoparticles allows us to ‘see’ the particles as our immune system sees them,” said Ernie Maynard, a research scientist who performed the work as a member of the team at Novavax, the company that is developing the vaccine. “Understanding the structure on a molecular lev ..
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