Nanoparticle-based Influenza Vaccine

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Introduction: Influenza remains one of the leading infectious diseases causing morbidity and mortality worldwide. Globally, the number of deaths caused by this infection ranges from 290,000 to 650,000. Vaccination is the most cost-effective approach to preventing influenza virus infection. The seasonal influenza vaccine is the most commonly available vaccine for providing protection against influenza, but it is strain-specific and cannot protect against mutated influenza virus strains, like those responsible for epidemics and pandemics. Intranasal immunization is a promising vaccination route for infectious respiratory diseases, such as influenza, as it can induce both systemic and mucosal immune responses. The cold-adapted live-attenuated influenza virus (LAIV) vaccines are the only human intranasal vaccines currently available that can provide heterologous immunity. However, the use of LAIV is limited due to its suboptimal protective efficacy and safety concerns, especially in high-risk populations, like children and the elderly. LAIV can further undergo genetic re-assortments and revert into a virulent form, thus posing a risk. Due to the continuous antigenic drift and shift of influenza viruses, therefore, a new generation of virus-independent and safe influenza vaccines that induce broader cross-protection with high efficacy is urgently needed. Technology: Georgia State University researchers have invented an intranasal universal influenza vaccine that has, in animal models, overcome the poor immunogenicity of recombinant protein antigens. The polyethyleneimine functionalized graphene oxide nanoparticles serve as a new carrier system for influenza antigens in this vaccine. They not only promote the delivery of antigens and adjuvants through their high antigen-loading capacities but also serve as immune-stimulants themselves to activate and enhance immunity. With its great ability to overcome obstacles associated with intranasal vaccine delivery, this graphene oxide nanoparticle-based vaccine technology can potentially be easily adapted to develop vaccines for other viral respiratory diseases like COVID-19 and potentially eliminate influenza epidemics and pandemics as well.