From antigen uptake to immune modulation: the multifaceted potential of peptide nanofibers as vaccine nanocarriers

Spanning from the mitigation of pathogenic diseases via protective immunity to the provision of therapeutic solutions for other debilitating ailments, immune-based interventions have showcased promising and significant outcomes. Peptide nanofibers constructed from self-assembled biocompatible peptide chains have garnered considerable attention. Evaluation of the peptide nanofibers’ capabilities has revealed their aptitude to enhance antigen uptake by antigen-presenting cells (APCs), such as dendritic cells (DCs), and their potential to manifest immune adjuvant-like effects. These results suggest that peptide nanofibers could amplify the efficacy of vaccines administered through diversified approaches and potentially obviate the necessity of co-administering antigens and immune adjuvants to APCs. This review highlights the potential utility of peptide nanofibers as an approach to augment immune responses, with the potential for the effective and safe enhancement of vaccine potency. Furthermore, the opportunistic application of emerging peptide nanofibers to enhance the therapeutic outcomes of recently uncovered immune modulators is also deliberated upon.