You May Get Future Vaccines via Dental Floss

18 days ago

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Researchers developed a novel vaccine delivery method using dental floss to target the junctional epithelium between teeth and gums.
This method stimulates antibody production in mucosal surfaces, providing an additional defense line against pathogens like influenza and COVID.
The junctional epithelium is more permeable than other epithelial tissues, making it ideal for vaccine delivery to enhance mucosal immunity.
Tests on mice showed superior antibody response compared to sublingual vaccination and comparable to nasal delivery, without the risks of nasal delivery.
The technique worked with various vaccine types, including proteins, inactivated viruses, and mRNA, producing robust immune responses.
Human trials with floss picks showed 60% dye deposition in gum pockets, indicating practical potential for vaccine delivery.
Advantages include needle-free administration, ease of use, and comparable cost to other methods, though it may not work for infants or those with gum disease.
The study, supported by NIH and Texas Tech University, suggests floss-based vaccination could be a simple, effective strategy for mucosal and systemic immunization.

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