Quality-by-design optimization of chitosan-based nanoparticles for mucosal delivery of H. pylori OMP antigens

Inês Guerreiro – Master student, iMed.ULisboa, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa; André da Silva – PhD student, iMed.ULisboa, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa; António Almeida – Full professor, iMed.ULisboa, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa; Lídia Gonçalves – Principal researcher, iMed.ULisboa, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa

Introduction: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) causes chronic gastritis and gastric cancer. Infection treatment relies on antibiotics, yet antimicrobial resistance and high reinfection rates highlight the urgent need for a vaccine. Mucosal vaccines offer both systemic and local immunity but are hindered by antigen degradation and poor delivery (1). Chitosan (CS)/TPP nanoparticles (NPs) provide a biocompatible, mucoadhesive platform for protecting and targeting antigens (2). Here, a Quality-by-Design (QbD) approach was applied to rationally develop NPs for the mucosal delivery of H. pylori outer membrane proteins (OMPs) (Figure 1).