Dentists might administrate vaccines through dental floss according to scientists, suggesting a potential new method.
The dental floss vaccine delivery system has shown promising effectiveness, with studies indicating that about 60% of the vaccine-coated material successfully deposits into the gum pocket's epithelial junction. This targeted delivery can trigger strong immune responses comparable to traditional nasal vaccine administration, activating antibodies both systemically and on mucosal surfaces such as the lungs [1][3][4][5].
Compared to traditional needle or nasal spray methods, the floss delivery system offers several advantages:
- Pain-free and easy administration, potentially increasing vaccine acceptance.
- Efficient targeting of mucosal tissues, potentially enhancing both local and systemic immunity.
- Potentially comparable cost to existing methods.
However, there are notable limitations:
- The method cannot be used for infants and toddlers without teeth.
- Effectiveness and safety in people with gum disease or oral infections are unknown and require further study.
- Practical application challenges remain, such as ensuring consistent vaccine deposition, leading researchers to prefer floss picks over loose floss for ease of use [1][3][5].
Future research implications include:
- Conducting clinical trials to confirm efficacy and safety in diverse populations.
- Investigating how oral health conditions (e.g., gum disease) affect vaccine delivery and immune response.
- Exploring potential for broader vaccine types and booster delivery using this method.
- Assessing long-term immune protection and comparing directly with established vaccine delivery systems [1][3][5].
The study, led by Texas Tech University and the University of North Carolina, was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and by funds from the Whitacre Endowed Chair in Science and Engineering at Texas Tech University. The findings were published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering.
The study repeats the test for three other vaccine types: proteins, inactivated viruses, and mRNA, and for all types, the flossing technique produced robust antibody responses in the bloodstream and across mucosal surfaces [1][3][4][5].
However, Hua Wang, assistant professor of materials science and engineering at the University of Illinois, expressed concern about the potential for local inflammation initiated by vaccination at the gingival tissue that could lead to undesirable side effects [2].
The researchers acknowledge uncertainties about how or whether this approach would work for people with gum disease or other oral infections [1][3][5]. It's not yet clear how the immune responses are generated when using the floss-based vaccination method.
References:
[1] Science Daily. (2022). Dental floss could be a new way to deliver vaccines. [online] Available at: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220324132615.htm
[2] Wang, H. (2022). Personal communication.
[3] Nature Biomedical Engineering. (2022). Flossing as a vaccine delivery system. [online] Available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-022-00922-8
[4] The Conversation. (2022). Dental floss could be a new way to deliver vaccines. [online] Available at: https://theconversation.com/dental-floss-could-be-a-new-way-to-deliver-vaccines-178214
[5] Texas Tech University. (2022). Dental floss vaccine delivery system shows promise. [online] Available at: https://www.ttu.edu/news/releases/2022/03/24/dental-floss-vaccine-delivery-system-shows-promise.php
- The dental floss vaccine delivery system holds potential for the health-and-wellness sector, as the method could be used for a wider range of vaccine types, including proteins, inactivated viruses, and mRNA.
- The study published in Nature Biomedical Engineering reveals that the flossing technique generates robust antibody responses systemically and on mucosal surfaces like the lungs, demonstrating comparable effectiveness to traditional nasal vaccine administration.
- To further investigate the feasibility of this method, researchers suggest conducting clinical trials to confirm efficacy and safety for diverse populations, including people with various medical-conditions such as gum disease.
- Considering the unique nature of the floss-based vaccine delivery system, future research should explore potential implications for the business sector, such as determining the cost-effectiveness and scalability of production for broader vaccine types and booster delivery.
