# Engineering Nanomaterials to Prime Immunity

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2020 · $471,122

## Abstract

Abstract
Development of vaccine technologies with therapeutic efficacy against cancer has been an elusive goal.
Conventional adjuvants induce weak levels of cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocyte (CTL) responses, while
accumulating evidence suggests that simultaneous CTL and antibody (Ab) responses are needed for effective
therapy. Therefore, there is a critical need for alternative approaches that can achieve strong anti-tumor
immune responses. Our long-term research goal is to develop new material-based strategies that can achieve
immune stimulation with potent therapeutic efficacy against cancer. Our objective in this R01 application is to
delineate the key nanomaterial criteria for designing effective nano-vaccines and to utilize knowledge gained
from these studies to develop a powerful vaccine technology for treatment of primary and metastatic
melanomas. To that end, we have developed a novel nano-vaccine system that can (a) efficiently transport
antigen (Ag) to dendritic cells (DCs); (b) promote Ag cross-presentation and cross-priming of T-cells; (c)
generate significantly stronger Ag-specific CD8+ T-cell responses than conventional vaccines based on DCs,
other nano-formulations, and experimental adjuvants in clinical trials; (d) enhance accumulation of anti-tumor
T-cells in tumor microenvironment; and (e) induce anti-tumor immunity against primary and metastatic
melanomas, in a biocompatible and safe manner. In this application, we propose to address the following
questions: what are unique characteristics of our nano-vaccines that evoke such strong anti-tumor immunity,
compared with other traditional cancer vaccines? Can we in turn modulate these parameters to further
optimize our nano-vaccine technology and amplify anti-tumor immunity? We will evaluate outcomes of our
strategy in murine models of locally and systemically disseminated melanomas. Our innovative approach
employing interdisciplinary principles of materials science, bioengineering, and immunology will lead to a new
vaccine nanotechnology that may eliminate primary and metastatic melanomas and improve cancer
immunotherapy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9829551
- **Project number:** 5R01CA210273-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** James J. Moon
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $471,122
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-12-15 → 2021-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9829551

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9829551, Engineering Nanomaterials to Prime Immunity (5R01CA210273-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9829551. Licensed CC0.

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