Mucoadhesive film for oral delivery of vaccines for protection of the respiratory tract

Esih, Hana (author), Mezgec, Klemen (author), Malenšek, Špela (author), Grilc, Blaž (author), Vidmar, Sara (author), Gašperlin, Mirjana (author), Lainšček, Duško (author), Jerala, Roman (author)

The delivery of vaccines plays a pivotal role in influencing the strength and longevity of the immune response and controlling reactogenicity. Mucosal immunization, as compared to parenteral vaccination, could offer greater protection against respiratory infections while being less invasive. While oral vaccination has been presumed less effective and believed to target mainly the gastrointestinal tract, trans-buccal delivery using mucoadhesive films (MAF) may allow targeted delivery to the mucosa. Here we present an effective strategy for mucosal delivery of several vaccine platforms incorporated in MAF, including DNA plasmids, viral vectors, and lipid nanoparticles incorporating mRNA (mRNA/LNP). The mRNA/LNP vaccine formulation targeting SARS-CoV-2 as a proof of concept remained stable within MAF consisting of slowly releasing water-soluble polymers and an impermeable backing layer, facilitating enhanced penetration into the oral mucosa. This formulation elicited antibody and cellular responses comparable to the intramuscular injection, but also induced the production of mucosal IgAs, highlighting its efficacy, particularly for use as a booster vaccine and the potential advantage for protection against respiratory infections. The MAF vaccine preparation demonstrates significant advantages, such as efficient delivery, stability, and simple noninvasive administration with the potential to alleviate vaccine hesitancy.

• Language: English
• Keywords: vaccine delivery, mucoadhesive film, mucosal immunity, respiratory infection
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FFA - Faculty of Pharmacy
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: Str. 179-192
• Numbering: Vol. 371
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-158412
• UDC: 615.371
• ISSN on article: 0168-3659
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.05.041
• COBISS.SI-ID: 197189635
• Publication date in RUL: 07.06.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Journal of controlled release
• Shortened title: J. control. release
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0168-3659
• COBISS.SI-ID: 27318784

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: dostava cepiv, mukoadhezivni film, imuniteta sluznice, okužba dihal, sproščanje, erozija, imunski odziv, dostavni sistemi, cepiva