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Researchers from the Institute of Process Engineering (IPE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences announced an inhalable vaccine. It is a single-dose device that contains a dry powder that alters the immune response to a specific antigen. As a result, it could be more effective and convenient than conventional vaccines.
The invention of vaccines has significantly extended the life expectancy of people worldwide. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t improve the tried-and-tested method. Inhaling vaccines could make inoculation more accessible and convenient for everyone. Also, we’ll spare many kids (and adults) from the needle!
This article will discuss how scientists developed an inhalable dry vaccine and how it works. Later, I will share other innovations in protecting people from diseases.
IPE professors Wei Wei, Ma Guanghui, Wang Hengliang, and Zhu Li created a new vaccine platform that contains a dry powder instead of a liquid. The powder is a combination of biodegradable microspheres with protein nanoparticles.
The latter can display multiple antigens, offering an expanded range of vaccine protection. Moreover, the platform’s unique nano-micro composite structure allows lungs to efficiently respond with immune responses.
Antigen-presenting cells absorb these antigen nanoparticles, enhancing the effectiveness of the vaccine. “The components of this nano-micro system used natural proteins and approved polymer materials,” said Professor Wei Wei.
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“The effectiveness and safety of the vaccine have been systematically studied in non-human primates, indicating its great potential for clinical translation,” he added.
