Peptide linkers for modulating antigen immune response in cancer vaccines

Abstract

The disclosure generally relates to Cathepsin S-sensitive linkers, short amino acid sequences attached to antigens that form a structure termed a hybrid peptide. Further disclosed are spherical nucleic acids (SNAs), nanostructures with a core surrounded by a shell of oligonucleotides, wherein in some embodiments the hybrid peptide is attached to one or more oligonucleotides in the shell of oligonucleotides. In some aspects, the disclosure provides a SNA comprising: (a) a nanoparticle core; (b) a shell of oligonucleotides comprising one or more oligonucleotides attached to the nanoparticle core; and (c) a hybrid peptide attached to one or more oligonucleotides in the shell of oligonucleotides, wherein the hybrid peptide comprises a Cathepsin S-sensitive linker and an antigen.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.