Particulate vaccines: on the quest for optimal delivery and immune response

• Published in: Drug discovery today 2011-07, Vol.16 (13), p.569-582
• Main Authors: De Temmerman, Marie-Luce, Rejman, Joanna, Demeester, Jo, Irvine, Darrell J., Gander, Bruno, De Smedt, Stefaan C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adjuvants, Immunologic - administration & dosage; Animals; Antigen presentation; Antigen-Presenting Cells - immunology; Antigens - administration & dosage; Antigens - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Drug Delivery Systems; General pharmacology; Humans; Medical sciences; Microspheres; Nanoparticles; Pharmaceutical technology. Pharmaceutical industry; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Vaccines - administration & dosage; Vaccines - adverse effects; Vaccines - immunology; Vaccines, Subunit - administration & dosage; Vaccines, Subunit - adverse effects; Vaccines, Subunit - immunology
• ISSN: 1359-6446; 1878-5832
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2011.04.006

Subunit vaccines offer a safer alternative to traditional organism-based vaccines, but their immunogenicity is impaired. This hurdle might be overcome by the use of micro- and nanodelivery systems carrying the antigen(s). This review discusses the rationale for the use of particulate vaccines and provides an overview of antigen-delivery vehicles currently under investigation. It further highlights the cellular uptake, antigen processing and the presentation by antigen-presenting cells because these processes are partially governed by particle characteristics and eventually determine the immunological outcome. Finally, we address the attractive concept of concomitant delivery of antigens and immunopotentiators. The condensed knowledge could be an asset for rationally designing antigen-delivery vehicles to obtain safe and efficacious vaccines. Reviewing the rationale for the design of particulate vaccines and how particle characteristics influence internalization, processing and antigen presentation by APCs.