Physicists, chemists, and immunologists from McMaster University in Canada have collaborated to modify red blood cells to safely stimulate the immune system to protect the body from the novel coronavirus, creating a promising new way to deliver vaccines. Researchers state that "developing new vaccine strategies and techniques is crucial for controlling the pandemic and preparing for future outbreaks as the coronavirus continues to evolve and mutate."
The new method, referenced in a study published in the journal "PLOS ONE" the evening before last, is "entirely unique for vaccination, as it involves integrating the membranes of red blood cells with viral proteins, which then form virus-like particles. These particles have been shown to activate the immune system and produce antibodies in test mice, and they are completely harmless."
Mikhail Reinharteder, the lead researcher of the study and a professor in the Department of Physics at McMaster University, stated in a report published on the university's website coinciding with the study's release, "Current vaccine delivery methods often cause radical reactions in the immune system and have short-term responses. Some vaccines that have been developed have shown side effects, and the new delivery platform opens up new possibilities for vaccines and treatments."
The researchers found that "the cells can be loaded with a large dose of viral proteins, yet are likely to produce few side effects, making the new method more tolerable and effective than other vaccine options." According to Sebastian Himbert, a co-researcher, "The technology can be quickly adapted to develop vaccines for new variants or viruses that may emerge in the future, and this is the kind of creative interdisciplinary research that McMaster University is known for." He adds, "It has been exciting to work with physicists, structural biologists, and immunologists to design a radically different vaccine platform."
The researchers first reported on this technique in 2020 when "they modified red blood cells to deliver drugs throughout the body to target infections or treat catastrophic diseases such as cancer or Alzheimer’s disease, and then adapted it to deliver vaccines." For his part, Reinharteder confirmed, "This platform makes our blood cells smart enough; we use them to act like nanorobots inside our bodies, which can fight illnesses whenever they detect one."
