Micro- and Nanotechnology in Vaccine Development

Mariusz Skwarczynski,Istvan Toth

• Publisher: Elsevier
• Year: 2016
• ISBN:
  9780323400299
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Immunology

This book provides a comprehensive overview of how use of micro- and nanotechnology (MNT) has allowed major new advance in vaccine development research, and the challenges that immunologists face in making further progress.

MNT allows the creation of particles that exploit the inherent ability of the human immune system to recognize small particles such as viruses and toxins. In combination with minimal protective epitope design, this permits the creation of immunogenic particles that stimulate a response against the targeted pathogen. The finely tuned response of the human immune system to small particles makes it unsurprising that many of the lead adjuvants and vaccine delivery systems currently under investigation are based on nanoparticles.

• Provides a comprehensive and unparalleled overview of the role of micro- and nanotechnology in vaccine development
• Allows researchers to quickly familiarize themselves with the broad spectrum of vaccines and how micro- and nanotechnologies are applied to their development
• Includes a combination of overview chapters setting out general principles, and focused content dealing with specific vaccines, making it useful to readers from a variety of disciplines

Chapter One

The Growing Influence of Nanotechnology in Our Lives

A. Ranzoni

M.A. Cooper Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia

Abstract

The semantic umbrella term nanotechnology covers every branch of science pursuing controlled manipulation of matter at the nanoscale, at which point a discrete set of atoms constitute a functional object. At these scales, proximal surface effects, such as, quantum coherence completely redefine the physical properties of nanostructures. Insulating polymeric materials, if properly engineered, are transformed into electrical conductors resulting in the flexible light-emitting materials such as organic LEDs or OLEDs now found in modern consumer electronics. Such novel material classes have been accompanied by major technological advances in high-throughput manufacture, measurement, and characterization. We now are able to engineer complex systems based on nanostructured materials that interact at the molecular scale. The ability to interrogate single molecules with techniques, such as, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), has opened a whole new chapter in life sciences, where biomolecules could be manipulated and analyzed directly, paving the way for nanobiotechnology and personalized nanomedicine. This chapter details the major classes of nanomaterials and highlights their translation into modern technologies and products that now affect our daily life.

Keywords

nanotechnology

nanomaterials

nanoparticles

nanowires

nanofilms

nanostructures

Contents

1.1 Nanomaterials and Fabrication Techniques

1.1.1 Nanoparticles

1.1.2 Nanowires

1.1.3 Nanofilms

1.2 Nanomaterials in Modern Life

1.2.1 Zero-dimensional nanostructures

1.2.2 One-dimensional nanostructures

1.2.3 Two-dimensional nanostructures

1.3 Conclusions

References

Nanotechnology ha...