By Iliya Kure
Credit: Courtesy Vaxxas Pty Ltd
A new study by scientist in University of Queensland, Australia is showing a breakthrough on polio, bringing hope that the disease will soon be eradicated.
Scientists at the University have been working on “nanopatch” a vaccine that uses tiny projections too small to feel, but penetrates the skin deeply to activate the immune cells.
According to the findings, the device has ability to effectively combat poliovirus than needles and syringes. Reports from the University says, World Health Organisation has approved the product, and is currently being produced for commercial distribution.
“Polio was one of the most dreaded childhood diseases of the 20th century, resulting in limb disfigurement and irreversible paralysis in tens of millions of cases,” said Professor Paul Young, Head of UQ’s School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences.
“This most recent study showed the Nanopatch enhanced responses to all three types of inactivated poliovirus vaccines (IPV) — a necessary advancement from using the current live oral vaccine.
“We are extremely grateful to the WHO for providing funding to Vaxxas Pty Ltd, the biotechnology company commercialising the Nanopatch.
“The support specifically assists pre-clinical studies and good manufacturing practices.”
Patch inventor Professor Mark Kendall said the study exhibited a key advantage of the Nanopatch.
“It targets the abundant immune cell populations in the skin’s outer layers, rather than muscle, resulting in a more efficient vaccine delivery system,” Professor Kendall said.
“The ease of administration, coupled with dose reduction observed in this study suggests that the Nanopatch could facilitate inexpensive vaccination of inactivated poliovirus vaccines.”
UQ Australian Institute for Biotechnology and Nanotechnology researcher Dr David Muller said effectively translating the dose could dramatically reduce the cost.
“A simple, easy-to-administer polio Nanopatch vaccine could increase the availability of the IPV vaccine and facilitate its administration in door-to-door and mass vaccination campaigns,” said Dr Muller.
“As recently as 1988, more than 350,000 cases occurred every year in more than 125 endemic countries.
“Concerted efforts to eradicate the disease have reduced incidence by more than 99 per cent.”
“Efforts are being intensified to eradicate the remaining strains of transmission once and for all.”
Data from the study encourages efforts by Vaxxas — established by UQ’s commercialisation company UniQuest — to bring the technology to use for human vaccinations.
“The research we are undertaking in conjunction with UQ and WHO can improve the reach of life-saving vaccines to children everywhere,” Vaxxas chief executive officer David Hoey said.
Findings of recent research have been published in the journal Scientific Reports.
