Oral Thin Film Delivery Vehicles

尽管已经开发了许多SARS-CoV-2疫苗，并且已经证明非常有效，但是通过肌肉内注射施用常规疫苗是昂贵的，耗时的，并且操作复杂。此外，其不愉快的患者经历是疫苗犹豫的重要驱动因素，延长了大流行的恢复过程。该项目旨在为基于mRNA的疫苗开发一种强大，方便和易于管理的递送系统，避免皮下注射和在疫苗接种过程中对训练有素的医疗保健专业人员的要求。该系统将使用薄的聚合物条，其在口腔中快速溶解（在几秒钟内），并装载有含有编码病毒抗原的mRNA的脂质纳米颗粒，提供了一种替代媒介物，可以容易且方便地将精确剂量的疫苗递送到口腔粘膜。 已经表明，舌下递送液体形式的疫苗在产生对多种传染性病原体的免疫应答中是有效的。 该项目将把这些成果推进到薄膜平台，使疫苗接种能够以操作简单的方式进行，并使全球疫苗接种的速度大大加快。

Although a number of vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 have been developed and have proven highly effective, administration of conventional vaccines via intra-muscular injection is expensive, time-consuming, and operationally complex. Additionally, its unpleasant patient experience is a significant driver of vaccine hesitency, prolonging the pandemic recovery process. This project aims to develop a robust, convenient, and easily administered delivery system for mRNA-based vaccines, avoiding sub-cutaneous injection and the requirement for trained healthcare professionals in the vaccination process. This system will use thin polymer strips that dissolve rapidly (within several seconds) in the mouth and are loaded with lipid nanoparticles that contain the mRNA coding for viral antigens, providing an alternative vehicle that can easily and conveniently deliver a precise dose of vaccine to the oral mucosae. It has already been shown that sub-lingual vaccine delivery in liquid form is effective in producing an immune response to a variety of infectious agents. This project will advance these results to the thin-film platform, allowing vaccinations to be carried out in an operationally simple manner, and enabling the pace of global vaccination to dramatically increase.