Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

Exploiting receptor biology for oral vaccination with biodegradable particulates

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Neil Foster, Emeritus Professor Barry Hirst

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.


Abstract

The effective delivery of antigens via the oral route is an extremely desirable goal. Mucosal delivery of antigens stimulates mucosal and systemic immunity without affecting maternal antibodies and reduces the need for sterile needles or trained personnel. To date, there are very few commercially available oral vaccines and despite numerous reports in the scientific literature to show the success of biodegradable antigen carriers, none of these have achieved commercial status. Nevertheless, many studies have shown the great potential of biodegradable antigen carriers for oral vaccination in preclinical studies, but a more rational approach may be to specifically target antigen-loaded biodegradable microspheres to cells in the mucosal immune system which transport and process antigens for T cell recognition. Modem cell and molecular biology techniques have unearthed a wealth of information regarding important receptors involved in the capture of luminal antigens by microfold or membranous (M) cells and receptors on dendritic cells (DCs) which may allow future targeting of antigens to specific DC phenotypes, thus directing the immune response appropriately. In this review, we consider the use of currently available biodegradable antigen carriers and speculate on how these may be improved to more efficiently target mucosal effector sites. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Foster N, Hirst BH

Publication type: Review

Publication status: Published

Journal: Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews

Year: 2005

Volume: 57

Issue: 3

Pages: 431-450

ISSN (print): 0169-409X

ISSN (electronic): 1872-8294

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2004.09.009

DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2004.09.009


Share