ABSTRACT
Objective· To prepare nanocarriers capable of improving the immunogenicity of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) hapten. Methods · Prepare CETP polypeptide modified by thiol in Fmoc, then Sulfo-SMCC were used to prepare CETP peptide-ovalbumin (OVA) nanoparticle and CETP peptide - OVA molecule conjugates in a two-step reaction scheme. The particle size and zeta potential of nanovaccine were determined and the morphology was observed. New Zealand White rabbits were vaccinated by subcutaneous injection of vaccine and serum collected from rabbits was detected by ELISA assay for the analysis of antibodies, high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The rabbits were randomly allocated to the PBS group (n=3), traditional vaccine group (n=3), and nanovaccine group (n=3). Results · Nanovaccine targeting CETP were successfully synthesized, with about 70 nm in size and about -8.81 mV in zeta potential, and possessed homogeneous spherical shape under transmission electron microscopy. Compared with traditional vaccine group, rabbits in nanovaccine group got higher antibodies. Conclusion · Nanovaccine improve immunogenicity of CETP haptens, and stimulate experiment rabbits to produce higher antibodies.