Photosensitizer-induced HPV16 E7 nanovaccines for cervical cancer immunotherapy

There is a lack of effective treatment methods for advanced cervical, and the therapeutic HPV vaccine is a promising option. The design of an efficient therapeutic vaccine is one of the main challenges. In the current study, we constructed a novel HPV nanovaccine that could effectively inhibit the progression of cervical cancer by combining nanotechnology and photodynamic therapy. This nanovaccine was constructed by linking bovine serum albumin (BSA) with the E7 antigen and then encapsulating the photosensitizer and adjuvant through disulfide bonds to form a highly biocompatible and stable structure. Due to its slow-release properties and targeted delivery to lymph nodes combined with infrared laser irradiation of photosensitizers to produce a photo-oxygen response, this vaccine could effectively induce the maturation of dendritic cells and stimulate T cell effects, thereby enhancing antitumor immunity. This prevention and treatment of tumors was experimentally demonstrated in a TC-1 cervical cancer model in C57BL/6 mice. This strategy can be applied to the design of therapeutic HPV vaccines in the future for clinical use.