Abstract

NANOVACCINES AND GENE THERAPY APPLICATIONS IN DERMATOLOGY

Mariappan Natarajan*

ABSTRACT

Antibody provoking agents are called vaccines and vaccinations are considered as one of the most successes of medicine for effective prevention against infectious diseases. Vaccines have evolved over the years to treat various diseases including cancers, as part of immunotherapy methods. Most new potential vaccines have lower immunogenicity, inability to stimulate powerful and lack a long-lasting immune response. Vaccine development is constantly evolving with available technologies like nanotechnology, adjuvants and innovative delivery systems have increased the immunogenicity of vaccines. Nanoparticles used as vehicles of vaccine components reach specific cellular sites by virtue of particle size and increase host's immune responses. Nanoparticle-based synthetic delivery systems (20-200 nm) deliver vaccine antigens, protect antigen from degradation, enhance its presentation and facilitate its uptake by professional antigen-presenting cells. Virus-like particles, self-assembled proteins, micelles, liposomes, inorganic nanoparticles, and polymers are the most studied systems. Gene therapy is currently being used and tested only for diseases that have no other cure. Gene therapy involves replacing a mutated gene that causes disease with a healthy copy of the gene, inactivating or “knocking out” a mutated gene that is functioning improperly or introducing a new gene into the body to help fight a disease. It is a promising treatment option for a number of diseases including inherited disorders, some types of cancers, and certain viral infections. But the technique remains risky and very expensive and currently studies are underway to make sure that it will be affordable, safe and effective. This review aims to provide a general overview of applications of nano-vaccines and Gene therapy applications in Dermatology.

Keywords: Adjuvants; Nanobeads; Therapeutic vaccines; DNA vaccines; Microneedle patches; Immune checkpoints; Personalized cancer vaccines; Melanoma vaccines; Gene silencing.