Abstract
In therapeutic cancer vaccine, it is important that vaccine antigen should be efficiently delivered at the appropriate time to antigen-presenting cells (dendritic cells and macrophages) located in lymphoid organs (lymph nodes and spleen) in order to induce higher anti-tumor immune response. We have developed novel cancer vaccines using cholesterol-substituted pullulan (CHP) nanogel as an antigen delivery system for targeted antigen delivery. In addition, recently we have proposed a new technology using CHP nanogel to regulate the functions of tumor-associated macrophages leading to the improvement of tumor microenvironment. When combined with other immunotherapies, modulation of macrophage function using CHP nanogel brings potent inhibitory effect on immune checkpoint inhibition-resistant cancer.
