Recent advances in nano/microparticle-based oral vaccines

Area of Science:

• Investigates nano/microparticle-based oral vaccines.
• Examines physicochemical properties influencing oral vaccine immunogenicity.

Background:

• Infectious diseases are controlled by vaccines, a cost-effective public health intervention.
• Pathogens often enter the body via mucosal sites (oral, pulmonary).
• Needle-based vaccines induce systemic immunity, not mucosal immunity at entry points.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss barriers in oral vaccine development.
• To provide an overview of nano/microparticle-based oral vaccines.
• To analyze how particle characteristics affect oral immunization outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on oral vaccine development.
• Analysis of nano/microparticle formulation strategies.
• Discussion of physicochemical properties and their impact on immunogenicity.

Main Results:

• Nano/microparticle platforms enhance vaccine stability and antigenicity in the gastrointestinal tract.
• Tailored particle properties can control antigen release and target immune cells.
• Ligand attachment (M-cells, APC-ligands) facilitates targeted immune cell uptake.

Conclusions:

• Novel nano/microparticle formulations are viable strategies for oral vaccine delivery.
• Controlling particle physicochemical properties is key to successful oral immunization.
• Targeted delivery systems improve the efficiency of oral vaccines.