Nanowerk has reported that Cleveland Clinic’s Global Center for Pathogen Research & Human Health have developed a new COVID-19 vaccine candidate with nanotechnology that has shown strong efficacy in preclinical disease models. 

Director of the Global Center for Pathogen Research & Human Health, PhD Jae Jung says: “Our vaccine candidate delivers antigens to trigger an immune response via nanoparticles engineered from ferritin--a protein found in almost all living organisms” and continues: “This protein is an attractive biomaterial for vaccine and drug delivery for many reasons, including that it does not require strict temperature control.” 

 The vaccine uses ferritin nanoparticles to deliver weakened fragments of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to the human entry point for the virus, the receptor-binding domain - RBD. When the SARS-CoV-2 RBD binds with the human protein called ACE2, the virus enter host cells and begin to replicate. 

The researchers found in preclinical trial that those receiving the RBD-nanoparticle vaccine were better protected from symptoms and lung damage associated with infection. Nevertheless, Future investigations in human clinical trials will soon be carried out in order to validate the vaccine,

For further information about the COVID-19 vaccine, see: https://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology-news2/newsid=57421.php