The development of needle-free vaccines has long been pursued through mucosal vaccination, or vaccine delivery via body surfaces such as the oral cavity. This time, Andrani Arasati, a doctoral student in Dental Science at the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKG UGM), has developed an innovation aimed at enhancing the immune response to mucosal vaccines.
One limitation of mucosal vaccination is that the body’s immune response is generally weaker compared to vaccines delivered by injection. To date, there has been no safe and effective adjuvant innovation to boost the immune response through mucosal routes.
Common adjuvants such as aluminum hydroxide can only be delivered by injection, highlighting the need for a new adjuvant designed for needle-free methods.
Responding to this challenge, Arasati, a fast-track student in the Master to Doctoral Program for Outstanding Undergraduates (PMDSU) at UGM, worked with her supervisor Professor Ika Dewi Ana, co-supervisor Dr. Hevi Wihadmadyatami of UGM, and Dr. Vasif Hasirci of Acibadem University, Turkey.
Together, they developed carbonate apatite nanoparticles coated with exosomes, known as CHA-EXO. Exosomes are natural nano-sized particles released by cells, known to play an important role in intercellular communication.
The CHA-EXO innovation has undergone a series of tests to determine whether the nanoparticles could be effectively absorbed by the body. Arasati, familiarly known as Arin, explained that the testing was conducted in two stages.
First, the nanoparticles were characterized based on size, shape, protein-carrying capacity, and their ability to penetrate body cells.
“The tests showed that the nanoparticles have an ideal size, are stable, and can be readily absorbed by the body’s cells,” she said on Thursday (Aug. 14).
The second stage involved testing CHA-EXO in an artificial oral cavity to determine whether the nanoparticles could penetrate the epithelial layer. The research team created a model of oral cavity epithelium from human cells to simulate the human mouth.
“The results were highly encouraging. CHA-EXO particles, sized around 100–140 nm, were able to gradually penetrate the epithelial layer of the artificial oral cavity. This indicates that CHA-EXO could serve as an effective vaccine delivery system through the oral mucosa,” Arin continued.
Interestingly, the particles were also found to induce a stronger immune response compared to existing aluminum-based adjuvants.
This response demonstrates CHA-EXO’s potential as a key component in future oral vaccines, offering greater comfort for children and older people. Arin hopes this finding will significantly contribute to global healthcare.
“We expect this research to be implemented in developing effective needle-free vaccines that are accessible to all communities,” she said.
In this study, Arin successfully modified CHA nanoparticles so they could specifically induce proteins. Beyond replacing aluminum-based adjuvants, CHA-EXO also enhances absorption effectiveness.
Previously, research on CHA nanoparticles conducted by Professor Ika Dewi Ana and her team received the Asia Best Innovation Award from the Hitachi Global Foundation.
“Through her doctoral research, Arin has advanced this work by improving the properties of CHA nanoparticles and decorating them with exosomes,” Professor Ika explained.
Professor Widowati Siswomihardjo also praised Arin’s research, recognizing its potential for significant impact on health sciences. According to her, high-quality research is innovation that not only contributes academically but also provides real benefits for society.
“Andrani’s research is expected to transform vaccine delivery into a non-invasive, needle-free route using CHA-EXO, which has greater potential than alum, the only adjuvant currently accepted worldwide,” she remarked.
Author: Tasya
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Illustration: Freepik