FIGURE 5.

In vivo HA and NP tracking. IVIS measurements were performed on mice injected with previously tested vaccine hydrogels of the 2:10, 2:5, 1:10, and 1:5 formulations containing fluorescently tagged HA and NPs (n = 3). (a) Total intensity of Cy3‐tagged HA was measured post‐injection, with signal from HA in the weakest 1:5 gel dropping the most quickly. (b) Total intensity of AF647‐tagged NPs, representing adjuvant carrying NPs, demonstrating that stiffer hydrogel formulations retain their NPs and associated depot structure over longer time‐frames. Representative timepoints in the strongest (2:10) and weakest (1:5) hydrogel formulations demonstrate the ability of a stronger gel to retain (c) HA and (d) adjuvant carrying NPs for a longer duration than the weakest formulation