Hydrogel/Polymersome-based Subunit Vaccines in the Fight Against COVID-19

Enlisting supramolecular hydrogels to fight coronavirus Most vaccines in use today were developed using techniques invented more than 100-years ago. The design of vaccines that have ease of distribution and reduced cost remains a major technological challenge.

In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is growing pressure to develop new technologies to address severe infectious diseases.

The EU-funded HYPOVACC project will develop a novel biocompatible, injectable and scalable vaccine technology based on supramolecular hydrogel-containing polymersomes to enable controlled local vaccine exposure for durable and broadly protective immune response against the coronavirus. The project research will cover new vaccine delivery technologies and recently developed immunological assays.

Objective In light of current events, developing new technologies for the fight against severe infectious diseases, such as the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is a global health emergency.

Despite the tremendous improvement of vaccine technologies, the design of potent, durable and safe vaccines displaying an ease of distribution and a reduced cost, remains a major technological challenge.

This research project proposes to develop a novel biocompatible, injectable and scalable vaccine technology based on supramolecular hydrogels-containing polymersomes to enable a controlled local vaccine exposure for durable and broadly protective immune response against the SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The platform will leverage supramolecular hydrogels as depot carriers for a sustained co-release of complex mixtures of immunomodulatory compounds comprising a typical vaccine and polymersomes to enhance the presentation of subunit antigens.

Immunogenicity will be improved through potent immune stimulating-adjuvants mixtures, selected from a precise screening of vastly different molecules in terms of chemical nature and size, and a controlled multipresentation of antigens by fine-tuned antigen-grafted polymersomes.

This highly innovative project will cover various disciplines ranging from chemistry, material science, to bioengineering, and will use new polymersomes and hydrogels constructs, vaccine technology and recently developed immunological assays.

The proposal will be conducted in two internationally recognized leading teams in the field of drug delivery systems in Bordeaux University, France and Stanford University, USA.

The international exposure and the outstanding scientific environment gained through the fellowship will be a key step for the independence and maturity of the researcher.

She will acquire a unique multidisciplinary research profile which will be of significant interest for her future independent career in Europe.