Nano Vaccines for Effective Treatment of Hepatitis B

Dolly #, Chumki Sinha # and Rekha Govindan #

# Department of Biotechnology, Aarupadai Veedu Institute of Technology,

Vinayaka Missions University, Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Paiyanoor, Kanchipuram,

Tamilnadu – 503604
rekhagovindan2000@yahoo.com

Virus classification

Group – Group VII (dsDNA-RT)

Order – Unassigned
Family – Hepadnaviridae
Genus – Orthohepadnavirus
Species – Hepatitis B virus

With new developments in the field of nanotechnology, needle-less Hepatitis B nanovaccines are replacing the DNA vaccine which has proved to be nontoxic and
produce strong and sustained immune responses in the animal body. These are more efficient than the convectional vaccines as they induce both humoral as well
as cell mediated immune responses.

Conventional vaccines Nano particles

Nanovaccines – Nanoparticles coated with Hepatitis viral cell antigens and delivered in the form of microspheres or micro projections. These are more efficient
and convenient as they are used in the form of nasal drops thus reducing temporary pain and redness.

NANOENCAPSULATION

A number of approaches are being tested particularly for the delivery of small amount of vaccines and a number of groups have devoted their efforts to develop
nano, microparticles prepared from biodegradable and biocompatible polymer as vaccine delivering systems.

Calcium extraction (Core dissolution)

Polymer, protein, DNA adsorbtion
(embedding) Particle coating

The vaccines are encapsulated in solid particles made from inert materials or biodegradable polymers such as polylactide-co-glycolides (PLG).

PEG-PLGA NANOPARTICLES – A PROMISING DELIVERY SYSTEM

Methoxypolyethylene glycol–poly(lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles were used as a delivery system for recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).
Evaluation of the stability and release kinetics of nanoencapsulated HBsAg in vitro in serum revealed an initial burst effect and a subsequent slower release of
the antigen. Determination of the immunogenicity of the nano-encapsulated HBsAg revealed a significant activation of anti-HBs antibodies. HBsAg
encapsulated within a nanoparticle generated rapid immune responses when compared to the nonencapsulated counterpart. Further the antigenicity was also
not affected during the encapsulation process, because upon release it was able to react with an anti-HBs antibody (Bharali et al,. 2008).

NANOEMULSION FOR HEPATITIS B

Scientists at the Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences developed a novel, needle-less vaccine based on a super-fine emulsion
of oil, water and surfactants placed in the nose a step closer to human trails. The nano emulsion is made up of soyabean oil, alcohol, water and detergents
emulsified into droplets less than nanometer in diameter and also provide booster method for current vaccine. This led to the production of three types of
immunity: systemic, mucosal and cellular. The vaccine was effective as current hepatitis B vaccines in eliciting systemic protective antibodies in the blood of
animals. The nanoemulsion acted as an effective adjuvant, without the need for a traditional adjuvant or inflammatory compound as in the current hepatitis B
vaccines. In addition, the nanoemulsion vaccine produced sustained cellular immunity in Th1 cells, which could make the vaccine useful in treating people with
chronic hepatitis B.

CONCLUSION

Current studies are thus focused on developing the preclinical data required to enter human trials yet no successful clinical trials have been reported. Although
painless, effective and safe needle-free routes such as the intranasal or the oral route or patches of micro projections to the skin are some of the approaches
which are in the experimental stage at present, nanovaccines may have a great future ahead in the process of vaccination and need to be explored.

REFERENCES:
 Bharali DJ, Pradhan V, Elkin GMS, Qi W, Hutson A, Mousa SA and Yasmin T (2008). Novel nanoparticles for the delivery of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine. Nanomedicine:
Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine., 4: 311–317.
 Jones DJ, McBride BW and Farrar GH (1996). Poly( lactide-co-glycolide) microencapsulation of vaccine antigens. Journal of Biotechnology., 44: 29-36.