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Nanotechnology of inhalable vaccines for enhancing mucosal immunity

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Abstract

Vaccines are the cornerstone of world health. The majority of vaccines are formulated as injectable products, facing the drawbacks of cold chain transportation, needle-stick injuries, and primary systemic immunity. Inhalable vaccines exhibited unique advantages due to their small dose, easy to use, quick effect, and simultaneous induction of mucosal and systemic responses. Facing global pandemics, especially the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a majority of inhalable vaccines are in preclinical or clinical trials. A better understanding of advanced delivery technologies of inhalable vaccines may provide new scientific insights for developing inhalable vaccines. In this review article, detailed immune mechanisms involving mucosal, cellular, and humoral immunity were described. The preparation methods of inhalable vaccines were then introduced. Advanced nanotechnologies of inhalable vaccines containing inhalable nucleic acid vaccines, inhalable adenovirus vector vaccines, novel adjuvant–assisted inhalable vaccines, and biomaterials for inhalable vaccine delivery were emphatically discussed. Meanwhile, the latest clinical progress in inhalable vaccines for COVID-19 and tuberculosis was discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, No. 103, Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, China

    Li Qin, Nan Gao, Guixia Ling & Peng Zhang

  2. Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microparticles Drug Delivery Technology, Qilu Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., No. 243, Gongyebei Road, Jinan, 250100, China

    Yanhua Sun

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  1. Li Qin
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Li Qin: conceptualization, writing—original draft, writing—review and editing. Yanhua Sun: writing—review and editing. Nan Gao: writing—review and editing. Guixia Ling: supervision and project administration. Peng Zhang: supervision and project administration.

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Correspondence to Peng Zhang.

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Qin, L., Sun, Y., Gao, N. et al. Nanotechnology of inhalable vaccines for enhancing mucosal immunity. Drug Deliv. and Transl. Res. 14, 597–620 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13346-023-01431-7

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