New research aims to end the refrigeration of vaccines

CSIRO researchers have developed a technique that addresses the challenges inherent in transporting temperature-dependent vaccines. The aim and hope of the research is to increase access to vaccines for those in rural and remote communities in Australia and developing countries. 

The World Health Organization estimates that every year at least 50 per cent of vaccines are wasted globally. A lack of facilities and temperature control is cited as the major cause.

CSIRO researchers encapsulated live virus vaccines with a dissolvable crystalline material called MOFs (metal organic frameworks). This protected the integrity of the vaccines for up to 12 weeks and at temperatures as high as 37°C. The research was recently published in Acta Biomaterialia.

“Vaccination is undoubtedly one of the most effective medical interventions, saving millions of lives each year,” says CSIRO scientist and immunologist Dr Daniel Layton. “However, delivering vaccines, particularly to developing countries, is challenging because they often lack the cold storage supply chains required to keep the vaccine viable.

“Live virus vaccines are extremely effective, but their complex composition makes them susceptible to high temperatures, and a universal stabilisation technique has not been found.

“This breakthrough has the potential to enable more affordable and equitable access to vaccines across the world.”

The researchers will now focus on proving the approach for other animal and human vaccines, including mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

The research focused on two different types of live viruses as proofs of concept: a Newcastle Disease vaccine designed to protect poultry, and a strain of Influenza A.

When MOFs were formed around the vaccines, they helped protect the vaccine molecules from heat stress. A solution was then used to dissolve the MOF for administration of the vaccine.   

“MOFs are a porous crystalline material that can grow around the vaccine to form a scaffold that protects against temperature variations,” says CSIRO’s Dr Cara Doherty. 

“MOFs work similarly to a scaffold you might put around your house. Once you remove the scaffold, your house remains – which is what happens when we dissolve the MOFs in a vaccine.” 

CSIRO researcher and author of the paper, Dr Ruhani Singh, says the technique is cost-effective and scalable.

“There are two common approaches to protecting vaccines from heat,” Dr Singh says. “You can modify the vaccine, which is complex and laborious, and at high temperatures may still only last less than a week. Or you can use other stabilising agents, which pose challenges including how to realistically scale up the solution.  

“This world-first approach of stabilising a vaccine with MOFs is simple, rapid, and scalable because it takes one step.”

The article can be accessed here.