Physicochemical properties and immunological effects of macrophage membrane-coated PLGA nanoparticles loaded with Hericium erinaceus polysaccharides

In this study, we developed biomimetic Hericium erinaceus polysaccharides PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) coated with macrophage membrane (MM-PLGA-HEP) and examined their immune activity in vitro and in vivo. Nanoparticle characterization revealed that from HEP to MM-PLGA-HEP, there was an increase in negative surface charge (with enhanced stability), structural changes, and a morphological transition from porous HEP sheets to spherical MM-PLGA-HEP. In vitro evaluations confirmed that MM-PLGA-HEP exhibited no cytotoxicity, significantly enhanced macrophage proliferation, dose-dependently stimulated nitric oxide secretion, and uptake studies confirmed its superior internalization efficiency in macrophages. In vivo administration of MM-PLGA-HEP in mice revealed significant improvements in spleen and liver indices, splenic lymphocyte proliferation, macrophage phagocytosis, and CD40/CD86 expression, indicating robust immune activation. Furthermore, MM-PLGA-HEP induced sustained antigen release, resulting in elevated IgG levels and enhanced humoral immune responses compared to controls. These findings underscore the potential of MM-PLGA-HEP as a novel nanocarrier for targeted drug delivery and vaccine adjuvant applications, providing a promising platform for enhanced immunotherapy and antigen-specific delivery.