Thermal Stabilization of Vaccines

Stable vaccines without refrigeration is a holy grail of medical science. In resource-poor locations, vaccine refrigeration is difficult and expensive, contributing to 2.5 million deaths each year that could be prevented with diphtheria, tetanus, measles and other immunizations. Innovators behind this project have found that entrapping vaccines with a polymer allows vaccine viruses to be kept stable at room temperature for months. The polymer, pullulan, is a safe, food-grade polysaccharide (used in Listerine breath strips) with a unique ability to provide a good oxygen barrier while readily dissolving in water. The project will evaluate the technology’s potential use in stabilizing a wide range of vaccines and develop a package for transporting dry, pullulan-coated vaccine and sterile water. At the point of use, the vaccine will be dissolved in water within a sterile package before injection. The approach is easily scalable, as all the materials needed are available at industrial scale.