LUNA INNOVATIONS INCORPORATED — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: A15-053

Description

Developing a safe and effective HIV vaccine remains the hope for controlling the global AIDS epidemic. Since HIV enters the body at mucosal surfaces, induction of immune response at these sites will be necessary as preventive approaches. Nasal administration has been shown to be the most effective route for mucosal immunization among others, and it can stimulate the immune responses locally and distantly. However, the pure recombinant or synthetic antigens used in HIV vaccines is less immunogenic, therefore, there are major needs for the new HIV antigen delivery platforms to enhance these immunogenicity. Luna proposes to develop a needle free carbon nanotube HIV vaccine (CNTVac) delivery platform that is capable of delivering a broad range of vaccines (antigens) mucosally (by intranasal delivery) to prevent HIV infections. In Phase I, Lunas CNT has demonstrated the effective delivery platform for vaccine antigens with fast uptake by antigen presenting cells, enhanced immune responses with low cytotoxicity. In Phase II Luna will develop CNT vaccine formulation for animal efficacy, safety studies in preparation for filing an IND to prevent HIV infections.