Novel perspectives for influenza vaccine formulation and administration. L. Lactis cell wall derived adjuvant stable dry powder vaccines and mucosal vaccine delivery

PhD ceremony: Mr. V. Saluja, 11.00 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Thesis: Novel perspectives for influenza vaccine formulation and administration. L. Lactis cell wall derived adjuvant stable dry powder vaccines and mucosal vaccine delivery

Promotor(s):prof. H.W. Frijlink

Faculty: Mathematics and Natural Sciences

In his thesis Vinay Saluja presents successful strategies to optimize influenza vaccine formulations, which can be implemented in the future to improve protection against influenza. Vaccination is seen as the most effective way for controlling influenza. However, currently available influenza vaccines have some serious drawbacks like: (i) limited protection against infection, (ii) limited stability as the vaccine have shelf life of one year at 4 °C, and (iii) administration by injection. Therefore, new technologies have to be implemented in order to tackle these problems. Sulaja used a novel adjuvant, Gram-positive enhancer (GEM; Lactococcus lactis cell wall derived adjuvant) particles to improve the quality and quantity of the immune response of influenza vaccines. Furthermore, he evaluated different drying techniques to improve the vaccine stability and to develop dry powder vaccine for needle-free administration.

Influenza vaccine mixed with GEM particles administered via the intramuscular route potentiated as well as improved the quality of immune response, resulting in at least 5 fold decrease of the antigen dose. Moreover, Saluja showed that combination of the GEM particles and vaccine strongly improved the quality of immune responses after intranasal immunization.

Moreover, a dry and stable (20 °C/3years) powder for influenza vaccine was developed by Sulaja for inhalation using spray drying and spray freeze drying. Pulmonary immunization with the powders resulted in improved immune responses compared to standard intramuscular vaccines. Furthermore, he developed a freeze-dried powder formulation for H5N1 (bird flu) vaccine, which was stable for one year at 20 °C.