Composite nanofibrous membrane of immunoreactive H5-hemagglutinin as a transdermal bird flu vaccine

H5N1 has been identified as the most pathogenic strain of avian flu, and therefore has been the most studied in prospective vaccine strategies. The grim reality of material and personnel shortage during a pandemic renders all of the currently proposed technologies inadequate for rapid mass vaccination. The long term goal of this project is to develop a transdermal patch containing a nanoencapsulated H5N1 antigen to deliver the immunogen into the antigen presenting cell (APC)-rich epidermal layer of the human skin. This study examines the capacity of the electrospinning method to create a nanocomposite nonwoven mat that effectively encapsulates a peptide derived from the H5-hemagglutinin (HA) and preserves its immunoreactivity throughout the process. The assay we have employed utilizes immunoblotting with a slot blot apparatus; this method has allowed us to confirm immunoreactivity after exposure of HA peptide to the conditions encountered in producing electrospun nanocomposite mats and to quantitate levels of the immunogen on silicon wafer targets we propose to employ for transdermal delivery. Its ease of use and cost effectiveness offers the potential for incorporation of numerous epitopes of a selected antigen in a rapid and efficient manner to create large supplies of effective bird flu vaccines.