Tailored Nanoparticles as Vaccine Components

Nanoparticles are components of many vaccines, helping to make them more stable and immunogenic. They protect antigens—or the genetic material encoding them—from degradation, target them to particular tissues or cells, promote their uptake into antigen-presenting cells, and activate the immune response (in the form of adjuvants). Nanoparticles come in many different kinds, some with uniform composition and some with elaborate core-and-shell structures, including lipid membranes. The antigen is usually retained inside, and the surface can be functionalized by targeting or activating proteins and carbohydrates. This minireview provides a general introductory overview to vaccination and a survey of nanoparticles, their types, production, characteristics, and individual applications in vaccines, and finally, a brief look into the world of artificial antigen-presenting cells.