Nanoparticle based nucleic acid vaccines

Abstract

Nucleic acid vaccines represent a type of vaccine that can activate both cellular and humoral immunity in an effective manner. These vaccines work by delivering DNA or mRNA sequences into cells, which are then translated into proteins, thus inducing an immune response. Given their ease of preparation and strong adaptability, nucleic acid vaccines have demonstrated excellent immune effects and hold significant development potential in the fight against various diseases, including the recent Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Ongoing research in this area is a testament to its importance. While mRNA vaccines have already been widely used, DNA vaccines require further experimentation. Nonetheless, the challenges of low DNA delivery efficiency and unstable mRNA in nucleic acid vaccines cannot be overlooked. To address these issues and improve the function and immunogenicity of nucleic acid vaccines, many studies are currently exploring the use of nanoparticle delivery carriers. The outstanding loading and delivery capacity, protective effect, and fine-tunable physical and chemical properties of nanoparticles suggest that they hold the potential to bring about breakthrough development in nucleic acid vaccines. This review aims to outline the mechanism of nucleic acid vaccines and briefly introduce relevant nanoparticle delivery systems.