Enabling global access to potent subunit vaccines with a simple and scalable injectable hydrogel platform

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Immunology
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Next-generation vaccine technologies are needed to improve immune response potency and durability.
• Global access to vaccines requires simple, cost-efficient formulations.
• Current vaccine delivery methods may not optimize immune stimulation for all pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an injectable hydrogel depot technology for improved vaccine formulation.
• To enhance the potency and durability of immune responses elicited by subunit vaccines.
• To enable simple and cost-efficient vaccine delivery for broader global access.

Main Methods:

• Formulation of hydrogels using generally recognized as safe (GRAS) polymers.
• Characterization of hydrogel rheological properties (shear-thinning, self-healing, yield stress).
• In vitro and in vivo assessment of drug release kinetics and immune response induction.

Main Results:

• Injectable hydrogels demonstrate shear-thinning and self-healing properties for facile administration.
• Hydrogels provide robust in vivo depot formation and prolonged release of vaccine components over weeks.
• Formulation with hydrogels enhanced potency and durability of immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 and H5N1 influenza.

Conclusions:

• The developed hydrogel depot technology offers a promising platform for next-generation vaccine delivery.
• This formulation strategy can improve protection against existing and emerging infectious diseases.
• The technology addresses key global needs for more effective and accessible vaccines.