Fig. 4: AMCNPs are taken up by APCs efficiently, stimulate maturation, and promote antigen presentation.

A BMDCs were pulsed for 30 min with free dye-labeled CpG or equivalent C1498-OVA AMCNPs with encapsulated dye-labeled CpG. Representative images show cellular DNA staining by DAPI (blue), labeled CpG (green), and merged. B BMDCs were pulsed for 2 h with C1498-OVA AMCNPs, equivalent C1498-OVA whole cell lysate (WCL) vaccine, or OVA SIINFEKL peptide with CpG. 48 h post-pulsing, CD11c⁺ BMDCs were gated for high expression of the activation markers CD40, CD80, CD86, and MHC-II. Activated CD11c⁺CD40^hi BMDCs were further gated for MHC-I presentation of OVA (H-2K^b:SIINFEKL). Data is presented as the mean percentage of total live BMDCs. C Labeled C1498 AMCNPs or mock controls were injected into C57BL/6 mice via the hock. 24 h post-injection, CD11c⁺ cells in the draining lymph node (dLN) and spleen were examined for presence of labeled C1498 AMCNPs. Representative flow cytometry plots are shown. D Mice received mock, C1498-OVA WCL, or equivalent C1498-OVA AMCNP vaccination. 24 h post-vaccination, CD11c⁺ cells in the dLN were gated for high expression of CD80, CD83, CD86, and MHC-II. Data is presented as mean percentage of total live cells. Significance was determined using one-way ANOVA with a post-hoc test using the Holm-Šídák method.