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