Microparticles for the delivery of DNA vaccines

DNA vaccines have demonstrated a lack of adequate potency in humans, which has necessitated the exploration of various adjunct technologies. Inefficient delivery of DNA vaccines, particularly to antigen-presenting cells, may be contributing to this lack of potency. One effective means of facilitating delivery of DNA vaccines to APCs is through the use of microparticles. In this article, we review the background and rationale for microparticles as a vaccine delivery system, data demonstrating their utility and mode of action for DNA delivery, and the prospects for their development.