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October 20, 2006|Volume 35, Number 7


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Grant to aid creation of 'smart'
nanodevices to deliver vaccines

A team of Yale biomedical engineers and cell biologists received a $1 million award from the National Science Foundation to develop "smart nanoparticles" for the delivery of vaccines.

Led by Tarek Fahmy, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, the team will apply the two-year Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Research Team (NIRT) funding to develop a new class of nanomaterials with properties that mimic biological vectors like bacteria and viruses.

"While previous research has shown that safe, biocompatible materials can be engineered into nanoparticles that contain drugs or vaccines, we will develop new materials for vectors that interact specifically and predictably with cells," says Fahmy. "Our nanosystems will be designed to evade the normal barriers and stimulate antigen-presenting cells of the immune system."

The researchers propose to construct the "smart nanoparticle" vaccine delivery system using a simple, modular approach that can be easily modified to meet the requirements of any particular vaccine. They expect this approach to be safer and more effective than current methods of co-administering an adjuvant or delivering live attenuated or killed bacteria or viruses to amplify the immune response.

"We will specifically target antigen-presenting cells such as the dendritic cells that are uniquely responsible for initiating immune responses," says Ira Mellman, chair and Sterling Professor of Cell Biology. "Targeting antigens to dendritic cells is emerging as a powerful novel strategy for vaccination."

The researchers will also track the fate and biological activity of the "smart nanoparticles" in cultured dendritic cells (DCs), to optimize the fate of the internalized nanoparticles and the release of the encapsulated antigen.

Their approach promises flexibility for integrating different DC surface proteins, enabling optimal DC population targeting and priming, delivery of a wide variety of antigens of clinical importance, and assembly of different combinations of recognition and antigen modules for a broad-spectrum potent vaccine response.

Co-investigators on the grant are Michael Caplan, professor of physiology and cell biology and Mark Saltzman, professor and chair of biomedical engineering.


T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S

Grant to aid creation of 'smart' nanodevices to deliver vaccines

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Former musician has found new passion in scientific research

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Parents' Weekend Schedule

New center to support chemistry research aimed at fighting cancer

University names two new assistant chaplains . . .

Event honors recently retired plant biologist

Yale's Equal Opportunity Statement amended to protect gender identity

Yale Rep to stage alumna's comedy 'The Mistakes Madeline Made'

Show features homes that come with 'Some Assembly Required'

Beinecke Library exhibit focuses on the Little Review . . .

Yale Opera singers will stage annual program of opera scenes

Panelists will discuss their views on religion in public life

Program to improve physician training marks 30th year

International conference will explore . . . genome-wide studies

Symposium to explore impact of 'Bayesian Invasion' on phylogenetic biology

Youngsters to tackle scientific challenges at Yale Physics Olympics

Campus Notes


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