Nanoparticle Engineering in Modern Vaccinology: From Delivery Platforms to Immune-Programming Architectures

Recent advances in vaccinology have accelerated the shift from conventional live-attenuated and inactivated vaccines toward subunit and nucleic acid-based platforms. Although these next-generation vaccines offer improved safety, rapid adaptability, and manufacturing flexibility, their relatively low intrinsic immunogenicity often requires efficient adjuvants and delivery systems. Nanoparticle-based vaccine platforms have therefore emerged as versatile tools capable of protecting antigens, improving targeted delivery, and modulating both innate and adaptive immune responses. This review summarizes the major classes of nanovaccine platforms, including lipid and polymeric nanoparticles, self-assembling protein nanostructures such as virus-like particles and ferritin nanocages, saponin-based self-assembling complexes, and inorganic nanomaterials. Particular attention is given to how vaccine performance is determined not only by material composition but also by nanoparticle physicochemical properties, biodistribution, cellular uptake, and mechanisms of immune activation. We further discuss the major challenges limiting clinical translation, including scalable manufacturing, safety evaluation, quality control, regulatory requirements, and long-term biocompatibility. Finally, emerging strategies involving hybrid and personalized nanovaccine platforms are highlighted, illustrating how nanotechnology and immunoengineering are transforming vaccine development for both prophylactic and therapeutic applications.