Spherical nucleic acid-based constructs as immunostimulatory agents for prophylactic and therapeutic use

A method of treating a subject, comprising

• administering to the subject a nanoscale construct in an effective amount to stimulate an immune response, wherein the nanoscale construct comprises a corona having an exterior shell composed of nucleic acid molecules arranged in a geometrical position around a nanoparticle core, wherein the nucleic acid molecules have a surface density of at least 0.3 pmol/cm2, are CpG oligonucleotides, and contain a spacer which comprises an oligoethylene, wherein the nucleic acid molecules do not comprise an oligonucleotide spacer, and wherein the nanoparticle core is about 1 nm to about 40 nm in mean diameter.