Controlled Release of a Vaccine Platform

Professor:David Putnam
Project Description:This project involves increasing our understanding of the release profile of a controlled-release vaccine. The design of this polymer-encapsulated vaccine allows for the release of antigen/adjuvant over time in order to negate the requirement for a vaccine ‘booster dose’. The specific focus of this project involves investigating the degradation of the microparticles and encapsulated protein/lipid-based vaccine platform over time in conditions that simulate the in-vivo environment. The impact of different storage conditions on in-vivo simulated degradation will be investigated utilizing protein, lipid and nucleic acid detection techniques as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy.