Cationic liposomes as vaccine adjuvants

Expert Rev Vaccines. 2007 Oct;6(5):785-96. doi: 10.1586/14760584.6.5.785.

Abstract

Cationic liposomes are lipid-bilayer vesicles with a positive surface charge that have re-emerged as a promising new adjuvant technology. Although there is some evidence that cationic liposomes themselves can improve the immune response against coadministered vaccine antigens, their main functions are to protect the antigens from clearance in the body and deliver the antigens to professional antigen-presenting cells. In addition, cationic liposomes can be used to introduce immunomodulators to enhance and modulate the immune response in a desirable direction and, thereby, represent an efficient tool when designing tailor-made adjuvants for specific disease targets. In this article we review the recent progress on cationic liposomes as vehicles, enhancing the effect of immunomodulators and the presentation of vaccine antigens.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / administration & dosage*
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / chemistry
  • Animals
  • Cations
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / administration & dosage
  • Immunologic Factors / chemistry
  • Liposomes
  • Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Vaccines / chemistry

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Cations
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Liposomes
  • Vaccines