Vaccines

On-demand vaccines possible with engineered nanoparticles

January 9, 2014

This image shows a collection of vaccinating nanoparticles from 40 to 50 nanometers in size. The inset graphic is a representation of how the engineered proteins decorate a nanoparticle’s surface. (Credit: University of Washington)

University of Washington engineers hope a new type of vaccine they have shown to work in mice will one day make it cheaper and easy to manufacture on-demand vaccines for humans. Immunizations could be administered within minutes where and when a disease is breaking out.

Vaccines usually are made en masse in centralized locations far removed from where they will be used. They are expensive to ship and keep refrigerated and they tend to have short shelf lives.