2026-01-16 九州大学
樹木由来のセルロースナノファイバーでつくった水中油滴型エマルションにより、免疫応答の活性化・調節に成功。
<関連情報>
- https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/ja/researches/view/1395
- https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/f/64457/26_0116_01.pdf
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1385894726002561
セルロースナノファイバーのバイオインターフェース工学による免疫調節性ピカリングエマルジョン微粒子の設計 Biointerface engineering of cellulose nanofibers to design immunomodulatory Pickering emulsion microparticles
Qi Li, Mayumi Hatakeyama, Takuya Kitaoka
Chemical Engineering Journal Available online: 8 January 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2026.172799
Highlights
- Surface-functionalized CNFs enable stable, size-tunable, high-antigen-loading Pickering emulsions.
- Sulfated CNF-stabilized PE (SPE) remains stable under various conditions for at least 60 days.
- SPE induces cell-specific immunity: programmed death of cancer cells and anti-inflammatory effects in macrophages.
- Biointerface engineering strategy transforms bioinert cellulose into bioactive microparticles for immunomodulation.
Abstract
Cellulose nanofiber (CNF)-stabilized Pickering emulsions (PEs) with preferable biocompatibility and designable functionality have been widely applied in foods, biomedicine, and cosmetics in recent years. However, their cellular uptake behavior and immune responses remain poorly understood. Herein, we investigate how surface modifications of CNFs, specifically phosphorylation, sulfation, and carboxylation, affect their emulsifying performance and subsequent interactions with fibroblasts, hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, and macrophages. All types of PE microparticles induced lactate dehydrogenase release and pyroptotic cell death in these cells, except in monocytes. Notably, sulfated CNF-stabilized PEs (SPEs) with droplets sizes around 1 μm exhibited long-term stability (up to 2 months) and the highest antigen-loading capability. Although SPEs triggered lysosome damage and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Kupffer cells, they significantly downregulated the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6, interferon, and tumor necrosis factor) in macrophages. By selecting appropriate surface functional groups on CNFs and tailoring a flexible glyco-endowed oil–water interface, immune stimulation can be effectively modulated. This work offers a strategy for designing cellulose-based immunomodulatory microparticles with potential applications in anticancer therapeutics and vaccine adjuvants.
