The Importance and Use of Adjuvants in Vaccine Production Technology: A Mini-review

Abstract

Aims: To provide an overview of vaccine adjuvants, with insights into the importance, classification, and use of these substances in vaccine production technology. Methodology: An exploratory-descriptive literature review was carried out, with a qualitative approach. The search was guided by keywords (vaccine adjuvant, chemical composition of vaccine, immunological adjuvants, aluminum salts + vaccine, among others) and was conducted according to the following criteria: original studies published during the period between 2000 and 2024, and available as full text; those using experimental and clinical studies as methodology were included. Results: Vaccine adjuvants play an important role in the success of the vaccine technology used. With the advancement of knowledge, adjuvants have gone from substances used to increase the immunogenicity of vaccines to highly purified antigen substances that induce a response, acting as molecular patterns associated with pathogens. In this study, the most common classes of adjuvants in use or experimental studies, their characteristics, benefits, and limitations of use are presented. There are classes of adjuvants that are already well known in terms of their use and effects (e.g.: mineral salts). However, there are also those (e.g. polysaccharides) that require even more studies to be widely incorporated into vaccine technology. Conclusion: Adjuvants are an integral part of the ongoing development of more effective vaccines. Therefore, it is necessary to continue studies regarding the benefits and limitations of the different types of adjuvants currently available, such as continuing to search for new adjuvants to expand and increasingly guarantee the success of vaccine technologies.