Nanoparticles and microparticles as vaccine-delivery systems

Abstract

Vaccine-delivery systems are generally particulate (e.g., emulsions, microparticles and liposomes) and have comparable dimensions to the pathogens, which the immune system evolved to combat. Increasingly more sophisticated delivery systems are being developed in which immunostimulatory adjuvants may be incorporated with the antigen. The rationale for this approach is to ensure that both the antigen and adjuvant are delivered into the same population of antigen-presenting cells. Enhancement of adjuvant activity through the use of micro- and nanoparticulate delivery systems is particularly exciting, as synergistic effects are often seen resulting in immune responses stronger than those elicited by the adjuvant or delivery system alone. Micro- and nanoparticles also offer the possibility of enhancement of their uptake by appropriate cells through manipulation of their surface properties. The next important step in the development of many of the experimental microparticle- and nanoparticle-based technologies will be evaluation of effectiveness in human trials.

Keywords::

• adjuvant
• emulsion
• immunopotentiator
• immunostimulatory
• microparticle
• nanoparticle
• vaccine-delivery system

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the help and contributions of all the members of the vaccine formulation group within Novartis Vaccines. Thanks are also due to Nelle Cronen for help with this manuscript.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

All authors are employed by Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Inc., Emeryville, CA, USA. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.