Nano emulsion - based intranasal vaccines elicit good response

Nano emulsion based intranasal vaccines have elicited robust responses in animals vaccinated against influenza, Pneumococcal RSV, anthrax, small pox cancer and other diseases. in some cases the response has been found to be exponentially higher than what is required to provide adequate against infection by Nano Bio-corporation in USA.

The nano emulsion is uniquely capable of permeating the nasal mucosal loads vaccine antigen into immune – presenting cells. These cells then circulate antigen to the areas of the body that initiate immune response including nodes, thymus, and spleen producing both mucosal and systemic response.

The significant advantages of Nano Bios universal adjuvant and antigen delivery are given below:

• Nasal delivery presents the antigen where it can most directly access to immune system.
• Induces robust mucosal immunity and a systematic Th1 cellular aspect of humoral response that protects against subsequent disease challenge.
• Cross protection
• Adjuvant multiple antigen types
• Non – inflammatory
• Antigen sparing
• Thermally stable and requires no refrigeration.
• Needle free and easy to administer
• Manufacturing is cheaper

The product pipeline available today against genital herpes, influenza prophylaxis, cystic fibrosis, MRSA nasal carriage and vaginitis

Genital Herpes: It refers to lesions of the genital area classically associated with simplex virus, type II (HSV-2). Though it cannot be cured , it rapidly decreases the pain and discomfort associated with the outbreak healing time as well. The current oral agents used in this condition are FEMCICLOVIR and VALCY CLOVIR. These medications suppress the symptoms and have been shown to speed the healing and resolution of symptoms.

Influenza: Nano Bio has also developed an antigen free nano emulsion that is non-toxic anti-viral that inactivates influenza virus by directly fusing with and disruption of the viral membrane. Extensive human studies have shown safety when applied to the skin daily for nine months to treat infections of the skin. Studies have indicated the emulsion is safe when placed in the nares of the skin. This nano emulsion provides a means to prevent infection and reduce transmission of the virus between humans regardless of sero type or resistance to traditional antiviral drugs.

The concept of an antigen free safe OTC that prevents influenza has significant potential as prophylaxis for influenza to prevent pandemic or seasonal flu infections when there is a high risk of exposure. The high risk situations are air travel, visit to paediatrician’s office or hospital or any situation that includes trips to crowded places, shopping malls and sports events etc.

Eradication of nasal MRSA and VRSA can be done by a product that is antibiotic free, nasally applied prophylactic treatment effective against resistant and non-resistant S. aureus. Singularly MRSA (Methycelline resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a type of bacteria resistant to certain antibiotics. S. aureus infections including MRSA occur most frequently among persons in hospitals, gymnasia and health care facilities.

The symptoms are skin boils. This condition is known as flesh eating disease. MRSA infections can be combated with Vancomycin. But the incidence of Vancomycin resistant to Staphylococcus is increasing rapidly. About 53 million people are suspected to carry the disease of MRSA. S aureus colonizes the nostrils though it can spread to respiratory tract. Open wounds, intravenous catheters and urinary tract are also the potential sites of infection. The present treatment against S. aureus infection is by antibiotics. Individuals who are known carriers of S. aureus infection can use this product.

Vaginitis refers to vaginal discharge or itching related to three separate conditions. These are bacterial vaginosis (Gardinella vaginalis), trichomonas vaginalis infection and yeast candida albicans infection. Vaginitis is the most common gynaecological indication accounting for over 10 million doctor visits annually in USA. Nano emulsion formulations suitable for chronic vaginal use have already been produced and are being tested extensively in USA.

Reducing health risks in animal and fish industries
The convergence of biomedical applications and nanotechnology has laid the way clear to augment the life expectancy and the breed of livestock. Nano sensor net works can be used to monitor the health of livestock e.g. cows, sheep, pigs with built in sensors that provide data about their health and even geographical location with a central computer that can review data and problems that can be sorted out immediately.

The objective is not limited to monitor and automatically induce medicines using drug delivery instruments that are implanted into the livestock in advance. This type of sensoring and automated drug delivery system is called fuel injection principle. This can be compared to build in insulin-delivery devices or commonly called drug chips that are connected with blood glucose sensors for diabetics to control blood sugar levels.

 This technique can be used in animals for other ailments. The major draw back of implantable sensoring devices is their composite materials that are metals or plastics which is unsuited to the living tissue. The materials engineered at nano scale that is the nano sensors are biocompatible. In this area of developing nanotechnologies the fitting farm animals with sensor, biochips and nano capsules will transform livestock into potential industrial production units. These sensors are very valuable in farm animals and useful in wild life conservation. The injectable microchips can be used in many ways for animal safety and welfare.

Biochips are now used in animal breeding for the eradication of genetic diseases. The functional biochips are now used for finding the best breeds in terms of commercially valuable traits. Nano sensors can be fitted in animals to identify the gene sequence tht relate to traits such as disease resistance and slenderness of meat. Thus the best breeder, its gene sequence can be known with these probes and the best breeds can be prepared. This aspect can also be used to screen genetic diseases by chips to test the DNA sequence to diagnose a source of pathogens such as Avian flu and mad cow disease.

At present the new technology of micro-fluidic and nano fluidic system is used. These systems work by regulating the flow of liquids and gases through a chain of small channels and valves. These micro-fluidic channels are generally imprinted into silicon and are less than 100 nm wide. This type of net work permits to manage biological materials like DNA, proteins or cells in quantity units of nano liters. The nano-fluidic system allows refined study of living matter and allows manipulation of matter by handling components at nano scale. This technology is used now to physically sort out sperms and eggs. This technology of using micro-fluidic to sort out eggs from sperms for the selection of sex is called flow cytometry.

The sex – selected horses, cattle, sheep and pigs not only sorts sperms and eggs but also brings them together in a way that imitate natural reproduction. Such a technique makes mass production of embryos cheap and reliable.

Farming of fishes, crustaceans and mollusks is the globally fast increasing field of animal reproduction especially in Asia that is growing at the rate is more than 10 per cent annually. The fishing industry is the first to incorporate and commercialize nanotech products.

Nanotechnology is used know to clean fish ponds called nano check. This technology uses 40 nm sized particle of Lanthanum based compound that soaks phosphates from the water, thus stopping the algal growth. This is now used globally and is the most efficient to remove algae and prevents its further development.

Fish farming also induces the use of nano capsules containing DNA nano vaccines for the development of a system for mass vaccination of fishes using ultrasound. Nano capsules are loaded with short strands of DNA and these capsules are then added to fish pond. Then the capsules are absorbed into the cells of fishes. Then the ultrasound mechanism is used to break the capsules which then release the DNA. This release leads to an immune response from the fish due to the vaccination. This technology is under testing.

Another aspect is that nano particles of iron accelerate the growth of fish. Studies have revealed the fact. Young Carp and Sturgeon have shown a faster rate of growth i.e. 30 per cent and 24 per cent respectively when they were fed on iron nano particles. Besides nano iron has been found to boost up the health of fishes making them more productive. India is far behind in the application of nanotechnology.