Insights in Matrix-Based Vaccine Delivery

The intersection of immunology and materials science is causing a paradigm change in the field of vaccine delivery. In the past, vaccinations relied on conventional suspensions that frequently needed strong adjuvants to produce responses. Nonetheless, the antigen carrier's physical characteristics, mechanical properties and surface functionality influence innate sensing pathways and adaptive immune systems. matrix-engineered delivery platforms have emerged as a significant paradigm within the domain of vaccinology, enabling both spatial and temporal modulation of antigen presentation. They can prevent labile payloads (such as mRNA or subunit proteins) from degrading, imitate the size, and promoting targeted uptake by antigen-presenting cells and enable prolonged release to replicate the dynamics of an infection. Understanding the relationship between biomaterial matrices and the host immune milieu is crucial for creating effective and safe preventative and therapeutic treatments, as the need for vaccines against complex diseases and cancer increases.The main objective of this Research Topic is to enhance the basic understanding and clinical potential of matrix-based systems for vaccine delivery. While immunization programs have been global success, conventional liquid vaccines often suffer from challenges such as cold-chain dependence, rapid clearance, and inadequate activation of the immune system. Emerging infectious diseases, ongoing disparities in global health, and the need for thermostable, dose-sparing, and minimally invasive immunization strategies demand innovative delivery technologies. This Research Topic aims to tackle these obstacles by investigating how rational engineering the physicochemical properties of delivery matrices, especially polymers, biomaterials, nanomaterials,hydrogels and microneedles, can provide unprecedented control over protecting antigens, controlling their release over time, targeting immune cells, and microenvironmental modulation. We aim to showcase research that goes beyond just serving as delivery vehicles to serving as actively "immuno-engineered" scaffolds. By designing matrices that mimic natural immune environments, researchers can regulate spatiotemporal release of antigens and adjuvants, recruit antigen-presenting cells, and modulate adaptive immune responses. By integrating mechanistic insight with scalable fabrication approaches, this Research Topic seeks to accelerate the development of safe, robust, and clinically translatable matrix-enabled immunization strategies.This Research Topic invites contributions that investigate the design, characterization, and biological evaluation of matrix-based vaccine delivery technologies. We welcome manuscripts that explore novel biomaterials and engineering strategies to overcome biological barriers and potentiate immune responses.Contributions may address, but are not limited to:• Design and synthesis of polymeric, hybrid, or inorganic matrices for antigen and adjuvant delivery• Injectable or implantable hydrogels for sustained or programmable immunization• Nanostructured systems for mucosal, transdermal, or lymph node–targeted vaccination• Novel microneedle-based non-invasive method for immunization• Structure–property–immunogenicity relationships• Immune modulation through controlled release and biomaterial-mediated signaling• Stability enhancement and cold-chain–independent formulations• Scalable manufacturing, quality control, and regulatory considerations• In vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo evaluation models, including mechanistic immunological studiesSubmissions integrating material characterization with robust immunological assessment and translational relevance are particularly encouraged. This Research Topic aims to provide a rigorous and forward-looking platform to define the next generation of matrix-engineered vaccine technologies Topic editors: Dr. Krishna Jadhav, Dr Rahul K. Verma, Satish Rojekar Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78703/insights-in-matrix-based-vaccine-delivery