Combining several promising concepts developed at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, the University of Gothenburg, and AstraZeneca, among others, a unique concept for a nasal spray mRNA vaccine against covid-19 is being investigated in a new pilot project. The group is exploring design principles for nasal immunisation, developing a biomimetic nanoparticle provided with both immune enhancers and a targeting protein.
“There are several benefits to administering a vaccine directly into the nasal mucosa. It mimics how many viruses often enter the body and can therefore more effectively trigger the immune defence at the point of entry,” said Karin Norling, Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers. “It will take years to develop a vaccine but hopefully after this project we will be able to say whether the concept of a targeted nasal spray vaccine is promising enough to warrant further work,” she continued.
PRESS RELEASE
The new research collaboration also involves Elin Esbjörner Winters and Pernilla Wittung Stafshede from Chalmers, Nils Lycke from the Sahlgrenska Academy, the University of Gothenburg and Lennart Lindfors from AstraZeneca.
The project is funded by the Chalmers Innovation Office, Chalmers Area of Advance Health Engineering, The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, SSF, and the Swedish Research Council (VR). The project is partly performed within the framework of the SSF-funded Formulaex research center.
Fredrik Höök is also a Profile Leader of Chalmers’ new Area of Advance within Health Engineering, which addresses societal challenges by providing innovative technologies and solutions to the medical and health area in collaboration with regional, national and international partners.
Link to original Press Release.