Tolerogenic synthetic nanocarriers for allergy therapy

Abstract

Disclosed are synthetic nanocarrier compositions, and related methods, comprising immunosuppressants and MHC Class II-restricted epitopes of an allergen that provide tolerogenic immune responses specific to the allergen.

1 . A composition comprising:
 (i) a first population of synthetic nanocarriers that are coupled to immunosuppressants, and   (ii) a second population of synthetic nanocarriers that are coupled to MHC Class II-restricted epitopes of an allergen,   
       wherein the composition comprises substantially no B cell epitopes of the allergen. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the first population and second population are the same population. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the immunosuppressants comprise a statin, an mTOR inhibitor, a TGF-β signaling agent, a corticosteroid, an inhibitor of mitochondrial function, a P38 inhibitor, an NF-κβ inhibitor, an adenosine receptor agonist, a prostaglandin E2 agonist, a phosphodiesterasse 4 inhibitor, an HDAC inhibitor or a proteasome inhibitor. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the allergen induces an undesired immune response in a subject. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the undesired immune response is allergen-specific antibody production. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the undesired immune response is allergen-specific CD4+ T cell proliferation and/or activity. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the allergen comprises an asthma antigen, a hay fever antigen, a hives antigen, an eczema antigen, a plant allergen, an insect sting allergen, an insect allergen, an animal allergen, a fungal allergen, a drug allergen, a pet allergen, a latex allergen, a mold allergen, a cosmetic allergen or a food allergen. 
     
     
         9 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the load of the immunosuppressants and/or epitopes on average across the first and/or second population of synthetic nanocarriers is between 0.0001% and 50%. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the synthetic nanocarriers of the first and/or second population comprise lipid nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, metallic nanoparticles, surfactant-based emulsions, dendrimers, buckyballs, nanowires, virus-like particles or peptide or protein particles. 
     
     
         16 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the mean of a particle size distribution obtained using dynamic light scattering of the synthetic nanocarriers of the first and/or second population is a diameter greater than 100 nm. 
     
     
         27 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the aspect ratio of the synthetic nanocarriers of the first population and/or second population is greater than 1:1, 1:1.2, 1:1.5, 1:2, 1:3, 1:5, 1:7 or 1:10. 
     
     
         32 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 
     
     
         33 . A dosage form comprising the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         34 . A method comprising administering the composition of  claim 1  to a subject. 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A method comprising:
 administering to a subject a composition comprising:
 (i) a first population of synthetic nanocarriers that are coupled to immunosuppressants, and 
 (ii) a second population of synthetic nanocarriers that are coupled to MHC Class II-restricted epitopes of an allergen, 
   wherein the composition comprises substantially no B cell epitopes of the allergen, wherein the composition is in an amount effective to reduce an undesired immune response to the allergen in the subject, and wherein the subject is experiencing or is at risk of experiencing the undesired immune response to the allergen.   
     
     
         37 . A method comprising:
 reducing an undesired immune response to an allergen in a subject by administering a composition comprising:
 (i) a first population of synthetic nanocarriers that are coupled to immunosuppressants, and 
 (ii) a second population of synthetic nanocarriers that are coupled to MHC Class II-restricted epitopes of the allergen, 
   wherein the composition comprises substantially no B cell epitopes of the allergen, wherein the composition is in an amount effective to reduce the undesired immune response to the allergen in the subject, and wherein the subject is experiencing or is at risk of experiencing the undesired immune response to the allergen.   
     
     
         38 . A method comprising:
 administering a composition to a subject according to a protocol that was previously shown to reduce an undesired immune response to an allergen in one or more test subjects;   
       wherein the composition comprises:
 (i) a first population of synthetic nanocarriers that are coupled to immunosuppressants, and 
 (ii) a second population of synthetic nanocarriers that are coupled to MHC Class II-restricted epitopes of the allergen, 
 wherein the composition comprises substantially no B cell epitopes of the allergen, wherein the composition is in an amount effective to reduce the undesired immune response to the allergen in the subject, and wherein the subject is experiencing or is at risk of experiencing the undesired immune response to the allergen. 
 
     
     
         39 - 78 . (canceled) 
     
     
         79 . A method comprising:
 (i) producing a first population of synthetic nanocarriers that are coupled to immunosuppressants,   (ii) producing a second population of synthetic nanocarriers that are coupled to MHC Class II-restricted epitopes of an allergen, and   (iii) ensuring the second population of synthetic nanocarriers comprise substantially no B cell epitopes of the allergen.   
     
     
         80 - 84 . (canceled) 
     
     
         85 . A process for producing a composition or dosage form comprising the steps of:
 (i) coupling a first population of synthetic nanocarriers to immunosuppressants;   (ii) coupling a second population of synthetic nanocarriers to MHC Class II-restricted epitopes of an allergen; and   (iii) ensuring the second population of synthetic nanocarriers comprise substantially no B cell epitopes of the allergen.   
     
     
         86 . (canceled) 
     
     
         87 . A composition or dosage form obtainable by the method or process of  claim 79 . 
     
     
         88 - 91 . (canceled)