Breaking New Ground in Vaccine Development
Luna Labs USA
We develop technologies in biotech, advanced materials, and engineered systems, bringing high-impact solutions to life.
We’re pleased to share insights from our recent interview with our collaborator, Dr. Moriya Tsuji. This partnership is creating new possibilities in vaccine development by combining advanced T cell research with our innovative NanoVac delivery platform.
Read the full interview here.
The combination of Luna Labs’ delivery technology with our immunological expertise is opening up new possibilities in both infectious disease and cancer vaccine development. - Moriya Tsuji, MD, PhD
Understanding Traditional Vaccine Limitations?
While traditional vaccine approaches have had success generating protective immunity for some diseases, there remain challenges: antibodies target surface features of pathogens that frequently mutate and change, making them moving targets that can eventually evade immune recognition.?
The Potential of T cells
T cell-based vaccines represent a fundamental shift in vaccine development. T cells recognize different types of epitopes (recognition sites) hidden inside the pathogen rather than on its surface. These internal epitopes are “highly conserved,” meaning they remain relatively stable over time, unlike surface features that frequently mutate.?
While traditional vaccines target the constantly changing exterior of a pathogen, T cell vaccines focus on the stable internal structures processed through specialized cellular machinery (MHC class I and II molecules). As Dr. Tsuji describes, “it’s like having a reliable target that stays put instead of one that is constantly shifting.”
Expanding the Possibilities with NanoVac
This is where our NanoVac platform comes in. Our carbon nanotube delivery system is specifically designed to enhance T cell-based approaches in several ways:
领英推荐
Expanding Possibilities in Cancer Treatment
While we continue this work in infectious diseases, particularly HIV-1, COVID-19, and malaria, there is also exciting potential in cancer treatment. We’re exploring how our NanoVac platform could contribute to the development of cancer vaccines – an approach that’s fundamentally different from traditional cancer treatments.?
Cancer cells present specific molecular markers, known as neoantigens, on their surface that distinguish them from healthy cells. These neoantigens are unique identifiers that can be recognized by the immune system. The key challenge in cancer immunotherapy is enhancing the immune system’s ability to detect and maintain long-term recognition of these neoantigens, thereby improving its capacity to identify and destroy cancer cells.?
Dr. Tsuji’s team has developed specialized research tools – “humanized mice” – that help us understand how human immune systems might respond to potential cancer vaccines. These mice are specially designed to have immune systems that mirror those of humans, providing a crucial testing ground for new approaches.?
What makes this approach promising is how our NanoVac platform could potentially deliver cancer-specific signals to the immune system, helping immune cells recognize and respond to cancer cells more effectively. The combination of our delivery technology with advanced immunology research offers new possibilities for cancer treatment in the future.??
Looking Ahead: From Lab to Clinic?
As we move forward, our focus is on advancing these innovations toward clinical applications, from respiratory vaccines to cancer therapeutics. The platform’s key advantages include:?
The combination of our delivery technology with advanced immunological expertise positions us to address some of the most challenging problems in vaccine development. As we progress toward clinical trials, we remain committed to developing safer, more effective vaccines that can make a real difference in global health.?
Find more information at NanoVac - Luna Labs.