Bioengineer Rohan Ingrole’s recent experiments with mouse dental hygiene serve a larger purpose: vaccine delivery through the gums. Utilizing store-bought floss coated in inactive influenza viruses, his innovations aim to provide protection against flu via mucosal vaccination. This method is particularly promising because vaccines that act on moist tissues, like those in the mouth and nose, can build immune defenses where pathogens often invade. By focusing on gum tissue, where the influenza virus usually enters through the nose, Ingrole taps into a new avenue for immunization.
Research into addressing mucosal immunity reveals that penetrating these elastic tissues can be tricky. Past efforts involved cheek patches or liquid tinctures designed to elicit immune responses. However, Ingrole and his collaborator, Harvinder Gill, found inspiration in the weak junctional epithelium located at the gum-tooth interface. Their idea was to utilize dental floss to ensure that vaccines could reach this targeted area effectively. The challenge lay in the logistics of flossing a mouse’s teeth, which proved to be a novel and complex task.
Initial attempts to floss the mice were met with difficulties, particularly due to the floss slipping off their teeth. Ingrole recalls feeling frustrated until a simple innovation—a keychain ring—provided a solution. By stabilizing the mouse’s jaw with this tool, they developed a two-person method: one person safely holds the anesthetized mouse while the other administers the floss-covered vaccine.
This innovative technique not only allowed for the efficient application of the vaccine but yielded impressive results. The study, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, showed that mice vaccinated through this method exhibited stronger immune responses and were less susceptible to flu infections compared to unvaccinated controls. Notably, one vaccine type even achieved efficacy levels similar to traditional nasal vaccines while reducing concerns regarding potential neurological side effects, as the vaccine entering through the gums avoids the brain.
While the results are promising, experts like Stephanie Langel caution that while the floss method generates beneficial systemic immunity, it may not be as effective as intranasal immunization for protecting mucosal barriers, such as in the nose. Gill and his team acknowledge the potential for incorporating adjuvants into the floss to amplify antibody production at mucosal surfaces, enhancing overall protection against viral infections.
Looking ahead, the procedure needs refining before broader application in humans. Initial human tests with a floss pick demonstrated a 60% success rate in delivering the vaccine to gum pockets, sparking hopes for improved delivery tools. This vaccine method’s painless, self-administered nature could revolutionize vaccination strategies, especially during pandemics when demand for healthcare resources surges. Ingrole envisions a future where vaccines could be delivered to doorsteps, greatly simplifying the process and democratizing access to immunization.
