Scientists from the Institute of Technology Engineering (IPE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have successfully tested a new method of administering vaccines in the form of dry powder inhalation. The drug effectively prevented infection of animals with ARVI. The research was published in the journal Nature.
Most vaccines are administered by intramuscular injection, whose action depends primarily on the production of antibodies in the blood. In a new study, scientists proposed a new approach aimed at stimulating an immune response in the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract.
The dry vaccine powder developed by scientists consists of biodegradable microspheres coated with protein nanoparticles. These nanoparticles can have more than one antigen on their surface at the same time, meaning the vaccine can be used to protect against different variants of the virus.
Experiments in primates showed that the powder effectively penetrated the lungs, where it was taken up by antigen-presenting cells. They are responsible for introducing immune T cells to the antigens they need to fight. The slow release of vaccine antigens resulted in long-lasting humoral, cellular and mucosal immunity after a single inhalation.
In addition, since the vaccine in dry powder form is much easier to store and transport, it is also suitable for areas with limited refrigeration facilities.
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