The Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation is investing a little over SEK 16 million in the development of new, highly-efficient vaccines that can be administered as a drink or nasal spray. In cooperation with Chalmers University of Technology and Lund University, researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy now hope to develop mucal inoculations based on targeted nanoparticles.
According to several international world-health organizations, vaccination programs against the most serious infectious diseases represent the single-most important measure to improve the global health situation. However, as the vaccinations are often administered by injection, they must be performed by highly-trained healthcare personnel. Traditional mass vaccination can also be impeded if syringes are reused, causing contagion.
Vaccines that can be drunk or given in the form of a nasal spray would considerably enhance opportunities to treat the world’s populations. Professor Nils Lycke at the Sahlgrenska Academy has now received SEK 16 million from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation to develop such mucal inoculations.
“We are now taking a unique and pioneering step towards a universal platform for mucal inoculations by developing a new targeted particle that strengthens the immune defense system and that builds on advanced nanotechnology,” says Nils Lycke.
Another advantage of mucal inoculations is that the immune defense system is focused on the same mucous membranes where the attacking microorganisms generally invade the body.
“One reason that such vaccines do not occupy a more prominent role globally is that we lack effective vaccine formulae with good immune system boosters, which would have allowed these vaccines to be produced. The next generation of mucal inoculations will have a major global impact and will considerably enhance the opportunities for better protection against infection and pandemics around the world,” says Nils Lycke.
The research group will together take a new conceptual approach by combining the adjuvant effect of an already patented molecule with nanoparticles consisting of various mixes of lipid particles. Thanks to a flexible particle design, researchers are able to optimize and maximize the immune system’s uptake of the vaccine.
