Described herein are nanoparticle-based compositions, kits, methods and platforms for delivering drugs to professional APCs (PAPCs) in vivo resulting in a robust and specific immune response to a pathogen, e.g., Leishmania major. The composition, kits, platforms and methods involve the combined use of MHC targeting and immunogenic peptides (e.g., PADRE) with charged (e.g., positively-charged) highly branched polymeric dendrimers (e.g., PAMAM and other dendrimers) as vehicles for the targeted delivery of anti-pathogen agents (e.g., AmB) to PAPCs via MHC class II molecules expressed on the surface of such cells such that the anti-pathogen agent is internalized by the PAPCs. The composition, kits, platforms and methods described herein provide for specific and efficient delivery of anti-pathogen agents (e.g., drugs such as AmBisome®) to PAPCs in vivo that results in a reduction of growth or elimination of the pathogen involving a robust and specific immune response to the pathogen. The nanocarriers described herein target phagocytes, shuttle their cargo into these cells, activate CD4 T helper cells, and act as an adjuvant to enhance immune responses.
