Human vaccines & immunotherapeuticsOct 2, 2026

Designed tiny particle vaccines for preventing and treating cancer and infections

mRNA Technology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Updated Oct 3, 2026

Abstract

Nanotechnology has enabled the engineering of nanovaccines that enhance immune responses through precise control of antigen delivery.

Nanovaccines can manipulate properties like size and charge to improve antigen delivery and immune system activation.
Prophylactic nanovaccines are designed to induce antibody and memory B-cell responses.
Therapeutic cancer nanovaccines aim to activate CD8⁺ T cells, potentially overcoming immune tolerance and suppression.
Different nanovaccine platforms, such as lipid nanoparticles and virus-like particles, each utilize unique physicochemical properties to optimize immune responses.
The review highlights both clinical and preclinical advancements in nanovaccines for cancer and infectious disease treatment.

Simplified

Nanotechnology has transformed vaccine development by engineering nanovaccines that offer precise control over antigen performance, immune modulation and targeted delivery. These platforms influence physicochemical properties size, charge, and ligand expression to direct antigen trafficking, co-deliver adjuvants and antigen-presenting cells, stimulating potent and robust adaptive immune responses. This review discusses the development of nanovaccines for prophylactic vaccines which induce antibody and memory B-cell responses and therapeutic cancer vaccines, which overcome tolerance and immunosuppression to activate CD8⁺ T cells with particular emphasis on lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), polymeric NPs, inorganic-core NPs, virus-like particles (VLP) and mechanisms by which each platform exploits physicochemical properties to enhance the antigen encapsulation, adjuvant incorporation, lymphatic transferring, quality and quantity of adaptive immune responses. We reviewed the clinical and preclinical developments of these nanovaccine platforms in cancer and infectious disease immunotherapy, including major successes and new opportunities that will shape the future of vaccines for prevention and treatment.

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Designed tiny particle vaccines for preventing and treating cancer and infections

Abstract

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