Olivia Saouaf

All Publications

• Nanoparticle-Conjugated Toll-Like Receptor 9 Agonists Improve the Potency, Durability, and Breadth of COVID-19 Vaccines. ACS nano Ou, B. S., Baillet, J., Picece, V. C., Gale, E. C., Powell, A. E., Saouaf, O. M., Yan, J., Nejatfard, A., Lopez Hernandez, H., Appel, E. A. 2024

  Abstract

  Development of effective vaccines for infectious diseases has been one of the most successful global health interventions in history. Though, while ideal subunit vaccines strongly rely on antigen and adjuvant(s) selection, the mode and time scale of exposure to the immune system has often been overlooked. Unfortunately, poor control over the delivery of many adjuvants, which play a key role in enhancing the quality and potency of immune responses, can limit their efficacy and cause off-target toxicities. There is a critical need for improved adjuvant delivery technologies to enhance their efficacy and boost vaccine performance. Nanoparticles have been shown to be ideal carriers for improving antigen delivery due to their shape and size, which mimic viral structures but have been generally less explored for adjuvant delivery. Here, we describe the design of self-assembled poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(lactic acid) nanoparticles decorated with CpG, a potent TLR9 agonist, to increase adjuvanticity in COVID-19 vaccines. By controlling the surface density of CpG, we show that intermediate valency is a key factor for TLR9 activation of immune cells. When delivered with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, CpG nanoparticle (CpG-NP) adjuvant greatly improves the magnitude and duration of antibody responses when compared to soluble CpG, and results in overall greater breadth of immunity against variants of concern. Moreover, encapsulation of CpG-NP into injectable polymeric-nanoparticle (PNP) hydrogels enhances the spatiotemporal control over codelivery of CpG-NP adjuvant and spike protein antigen such that a single immunization of hydrogel-based vaccines generates humoral responses comparable to those of a typical prime-boost regimen of soluble vaccines. These delivery technologies can potentially reduce the costs and burden of clinical vaccination, both of which are key elements in fighting a pandemic.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acsnano.3c09700

  View details for PubMedID 38215338

• Soft Viscoelastic Magnetic Hydrogels from the In Situ Mineralization of Iron Oxide in Metal-Coordinate Polymer Networks ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES Song, J., Kim, S., Saouaf, O., Owens, C., McKinley, G. H., Holten-Andersen, N. 2023; 15 (45): 52874-52882

  Abstract

  The design of soft magnetic hydrogels with high concentrations of magnetic particles is complicated by weak retention of the iron oxide particles in the hydrogel scaffold. Here, we propose a design strategy that circumvents this problem through the in situ mineralization of iron oxide nanoparticles within polymer hydrogels functionalized with strongly iron-coordinating nitrocatechol groups. The mineralization process facilitates the synthesis of a high concentration of large iron oxide nanoparticles (up to 57 wt % dry mass per single cycle) in a simple one-step process under ambient conditions. The resulting hydrogels are soft (kPa range) and viscoelastic and exhibit strong magnetic actuation. This strategy offers a pathway for the energy-efficient design of soft, mechanically robust, and magneto-responsive hydrogels for biomedical applications.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acsami.3c08145

  View details for Web of Science ID 001105576100001

  View details for PubMedID 37916735

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC10658456

• A Regimen Compression Strategy for Commercial Vaccines Leveraging an Injectable Hydrogel Depot Technology for Sustained Vaccine Exposure ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS Yan, J., Ou, B. S., Saouaf, O. M., Meany, E. L., Eckman, N., Appel, E. A. 2023

  View details for DOI 10.1002/adtp.202300108

  View details for Web of Science ID 001004577500001

• Broad and Durable Humoral Responses Following Single Hydrogel Immunization of SARS-CoV-2 Subunit Vaccine. Advanced healthcare materials Ou, B. S., Saouaf, O. M., Yan, J., Bruun, T. U., Baillet, J., Zhou, X., King, N. P., Appel, E. A. 2023: e2301495

  Abstract

  Most vaccines require several immunizations to induce robust immunity, and indeed, most SARS-CoV-2 vaccines require an initial two-shot regimen followed by several boosters to maintain efficacy. Such a complex series of immunizations unfortunately increases the cost and complexity of populations-scale vaccination and reduces overall compliance and vaccination rate. In a rapidly evolving pandemic affected by the spread of immune-escaping variants, there is an urgent need to develop vaccines capable of providing robust and durable immunity. In this work, we developed a single immunization SARS-CoV-2 subunit vaccine that could rapidly generate potent, broad, and durable humoral immunity. We leveraged injectable polymer-nanoparticle (PNP) hydrogels as a depot technology for the sustained delivery of a nanoparticle COVID antigen displaying multiple copies of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding-domain (RBD-NP), and potent adjuvants including CpG and 3M-052. Compared to a clinically relevant prime-boost regimen with soluble vaccines formulated with CpG/Alum or 3M-052/Alum adjuvants, PNP hydrogel vaccines more rapidly generated higher, broader, and more durable antibody responses. Additionally, these single-immunization hydrogel-based vaccines elicited potent and consistent neutralizing responses. Overall, we show that PNP hydrogels elicit improved anti-COVID immune responses with only a single administration, demonstrating their potential as critical technologies to enhance our overall pandemic readiness. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/adhm.202301495

  View details for PubMedID 37278391

• Injectable Nanoparticle-Based Hydrogels Enable the Safe and Effective Deployment of Immunostimulatory CD40 Agonist Antibodies. Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) Correa, S., Meany, E. L., Gale, E. C., Klich, J. H., Saouaf, O. M., Mayer, A. T., Xiao, Z., Liong, C. S., Brown, R. A., Maikawa, C. L., Grosskopf, A. K., Mann, J. L., Idoyaga, J., Appel, E. A. 2022: e2103677

  Abstract

  When properly deployed, the immune system can eliminate deadly pathogens, eradicate metastatic cancers, and provide long-lasting protection from diverse diseases. Unfortunately, realizing these remarkable capabilities is inherently risky as disruption to immune homeostasis can elicit dangerous complications or autoimmune disorders. While current research is continuously expanding the arsenal of potent immunotherapeutics, there is a technological gap when it comes to controlling when, where, and how long these drugs act on the body. Here, this study explored the ability of a slow-releasing injectable hydrogel depot to reduce dose-limiting toxicities of immunostimulatory CD40agonist (CD40a) while maintaining its potent anticancer efficacy. A previously described polymer-nanoparticle (PNP) hydrogel system is leveraged that exhibits shear-thinning and yield-stress properties that are hypothesized to improve locoregional delivery of CD40a immunotherapy. Using positron emission tomography, it is demonstrated that prolonged hydrogel-based delivery redistributes CD40a exposure to the tumor and the tumor draining lymph node (TdLN), thereby reducing weight loss, hepatotoxicity, and cytokine storm associated with standard treatment. Moreover, CD40a-loaded hydrogels mediate improved local cytokine induction in the TdLN and improve treatment efficacy in the B16F10melanoma model. PNP hydrogels, therefore, represent a facile, drug-agnostic method to ameliorate immune-related adverse effects and explore locoregional delivery of immunostimulatory drugs.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/advs.202103677

  View details for PubMedID 35975424

• Yield-Stress and Creep Control Depot Formation and Persistence of Injectable Hydrogels Following Subcutaneous Administration ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS Jons, C. K., Grosskopf, A. K., Baillet, J., Yan, J., Klich, J. H., Saouaf, O. M., Appel, E. A. 2022

  View details for DOI 10.1002/adfm.202203402

  View details for Web of Science ID 000835848500001

• Sustained delivery approaches to improving adaptive immune responses. Advanced drug delivery reviews Ou, B. S., Saouaf, O. M., Baillet, J., Appel, E. A. 2022: 114401

  Abstract

  The immune system is one of the most important, complex biological networks regulating and protecting human health. Its precise modulation can prevent deadly infections and fight cancer. Accordingly, prophylactic vaccines and cancer immunotherapies are some of the most powerful technologies to protect against potential dangers through training of the immune system. Upon immunization, activation and maturation of B and T cells of the adaptive immune system are necessary for development of proper humoral and cellular protection. Yet, the exquisite organization of the immune system requires spatiotemporal control over the exposure of immunomodulatory signals. For example, while the human immune system has evolved to develop immunity to natural pathogenic infections that often last for weeks, current prophylactic vaccination technologies only expose the immune system to immunomodulatory signals for hours to days. It has become clear that leveraging sustained release technologies to prolong immunogen and adjuvant exposure can increase the potency, durability, and quality of adaptive immune responses. Over the past several years, tremendous breakthroughs have been made in the design of novel biomaterials such as nanoparticles, microparticles, hydrogels, and microneedles that can precisely control and the presentation of immunomodulatory signals to the immune system. In this review, we discuss relevant sustained release strategies and their corresponding benefits to cellular and humoral responses.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114401

  View details for PubMedID 35750115

• Gelation and yielding behavior of polymer-nanoparticle hydrogels. Journal of polymer science (2020) Grosskopf, A. K., Saouaf, O. A., Lopez Hernandez, H., Appel, E. A. 2021; 59 (22): 2854-2866

  Abstract

  Polymer-nanoparticle hydrogels are a unique class of self-assembled, shear-thinning, yield-stress fluids that have demonstrated potential utility in many impactful applications. Here, we present a thorough analysis of the gelation and yielding behavior of these materials with respect to the polymer and nanoparticle component stoichiometry. Through comprehensive rheological and diffusion studies, we reveal insights into the structural dynamics of the polymer nanoparticle network that identify that stoichiometry plays a key role in gelation and yielding, ultimately enabling the development of hydrogel formulations with unique shear-thinning and yield-stress behaviors. Access to these materials opens new doors for interesting applications in a variety of fields including tissue engineering, drug delivery, and controlled solution viscosity.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/pol.20210652

  View details for PubMedID 35875706

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC9298381

• Gelation and yielding behavior of polymer-nanoparticle hydrogels JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE Grosskopf, A. K., Saouaf, O. A., Lopez Hernandez, H., Appel, E. A. 2021

  View details for DOI 10.1002/pol.20210652

  View details for Web of Science ID 000709823700001

• Modulation of injectable hydrogel properties for slow co-delivery of influenza subunit vaccine components enhance the potency of humoral immunity. Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A Saouaf, O. M., Roth, G. A., Ou, B. S., Smith, A. A., Yu, A. C., Gale, E. C., Grosskopf, A. K., Picece, V. C., Appel, E. A. 2021

  Abstract

  Vaccines are critical for combating infectious diseases across the globe. Influenza, for example, kills roughly 500,000 people annually worldwide, despite annual vaccination campaigns. Efficacious vaccines must elicit a robust and durable antibody response, and poor efficacy often arises from inappropriate temporal control over antigen and adjuvant presentation to the immune system. In this work, we sought to exploit the immune system's natural response to extended pathogen exposure during infection by designing an easily administered slow-delivery influenza vaccine platform. We utilized an injectable and self-healing polymer-nanoparticle (PNP) hydrogel platform to prolong the co-delivery of vaccine components to the immune system. We demonstrated that these hydrogels exhibit unique dynamic physical characteristics whereby physicochemically distinct influenza hemagglutinin antigen and a toll-like receptor 7/8 agonist adjuvant could be co-delivered over prolonged timeframes that were tunable through simple alteration of the gel formulation. We show a relationship between hydrogel physical properties and the resulting immune response to immunization. When administered in mice, hydrogel-based vaccines demonstrated enhancements in the magnitude and duration of humoral immune responses compared to alum, a widely used clinical adjuvant system. We found stiffer hydrogel formulations exhibited slower release and resulted in the greatest improvements to the antibody response while also enabling significant adjuvant dose sparing. In summary, this work introduces a simple and effective vaccine delivery platform that increases the potency and durability of influenza subunit vaccines.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/jbm.a.37203

  View details for PubMedID 33955657

• Prolonged Codelivery of Hemagglutinin and a TLR7/8 Agonist in a Supramolecular Polymer-Nanoparticle Hydrogel Enhances Potency and Breadth of Influenza Vaccination. ACS biomaterials science & engineering Roth, G. A., Saouaf, O. M., Smith, A. A., Gale, E. C., Hernandez, M. A., Idoyaga, J., Appel, E. A. 2021

  Abstract

  The sustained release of vaccine cargo has been shown to improve humoral immune responses to challenging pathogens such as influenza. Extended codelivery of antigen and adjuvant prolongs germinal center reactions, thus improving antibody affinity maturation and the ability to neutralize the target pathogen. Here, we develop an injectable, physically cross-linked polymer-nanoparticle (PNP) hydrogel system to prolong the local codelivery of hemagglutinin and a toll-like receptor 7/8 agonist (TLR7/8a) adjuvant. By tethering the TLR7/8a to a NP motif within the hydrogels (TLR7/8a-NP), the dynamic mesh of the PNP hydrogels enables codiffusion of the adjuvant and protein antigen (hemagglutinin), therefore enabling sustained codelivery of these two physicochemically distinct molecules. We show that subcutaneous delivery of PNP hydrogels carrying hemagglutinin and TLR7/8a-NP in mice improves the magnitude and duration of antibody titers in response to a single injection vaccination compared to clinically used adjuvants. Furthermore, the PNP gel-based slow delivery of influenza vaccines led to increased breadth of antibody responses against future influenza variants, including a future pandemic variant, compared to clinical adjuvants. In summary, this work introduces a simple and effective vaccine delivery platform that increases the potency and durability of influenza subunit vaccines.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c01496

  View details for PubMedID 33404236

• Quantifying residue-specific conformational dynamics of a highly reactive 29-mer peptide. Scientific reports Lindemann, W. R., Evans, E. D., Mijalis, A. J., Saouaf, O. M., Pentelute, B. L., Ortony, J. H. 2020; 10 (1): 2597

  Abstract

  Understanding structural transitions within macromolecules remains an important challenge in biochemistry, with important implications for drug development and medicine. Insight into molecular behavior often requires residue-specific dynamics measurement at micromolar concentrations. We studied MP01-Gen4, a library peptide selected to rapidly undergo bioconjugation, by using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) to measure conformational dynamics. We mapped the dynamics of MP01-Gen4 with residue-specificity and identified the regions involved in a structural transformation related to the conjugation reaction. Upon reaction, the conformational dynamics of residues near the termini slow significantly more than central residues, indicating that the reaction induces a structural transition far from the reaction site. Arrhenius analysis demonstrates a nearly threefold decrease in the activation energy of conformational diffusion upon reaction (8.0kBT to 3.4kBT), which occurs across the entire peptide, independently of residue position. This novel approach to EPR spectral analysis provides insight into the positional extent of disorder and the nature of the energy landscape of a highly reactive, intrinsically disordered library peptide before and after conjugation.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s41598-020-59047-7

  View details for PubMedID 32054898