Peptide-based subunit nanovaccines.

Classical vaccines incorporating live or attenuated microorganisms possess several disadvantages and cannot be applied against cancer and some pathogens. Modern vaccines utilizing immunogenic subunits derived from a particular pathogen are able to overcome these obstacles but need a specific delivery system for their efficacy. Nanotechnology has opened a new window into these delivery methodologies. A nano-sized formulation of subunit vaccines has been proven to be very effective in inducing cellular and humoral immune responses. Here, we review a number of peptide vaccine delivery strategies based on nanoparticles composed of polymers, peptides, lipids, and inorganic materials.