Nanoparticles as Delivery Vehicles for Vaccines: The Use of Gold Nanoparticles

Abstract

Since their inception, therapeutic or prophylactic vaccines have emerged as promising candidates for the prevention or treatment of infections and various diseases, including cancer and autoimmune disorders. In recent times, gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have acquired active roles in the field of vaccine development due to their intrinsic capacity to adjust and enhance the immune response. Due to their characteristics, GNPs can exert optimal effects as both delivery vehicles and adjuvants. Despite their significant importance in vaccinology, numerous obstacles need to be overcome before GNPs can be used in the formulations of vaccines in clinical settings. The current review summarizes the latest and successful use of gold nanoparticles as a viable method for developing a new generation of vaccines.

Keywords: Antibody; antigen; drug delivery; gold nanoparticles; immunogenicity; vaccines.