Figure 1.

Schematic representation of (a) LbL assembly process, and (b) single step assembly with SC/MS silica template. In LbL assembly, a solid silica nanoparticle (grey) is coated with antigen (blue) by electrostatic interaction, followed by alternate deposition of polymers to create multiple layers by chemical cross-linking (red). The silica nanoparticle template is removed, leaving an antigen containing nanocapsule. In single step assembly, antigen or polymer is infiltrated into the mesoporous matrix (blue) of SC/MS silica nanoparticles (grey with mesh layer). Antigen or polymer is subsequently cross-linked (red), leaving hollow antigen-containing nanocapsules.