Laser vaccine adjuvant for cutaneous immunization.

Simple and efficient technologies for intradermal immunization have recently been developed, making cutaneous vaccination a valid alternative for vaccine delivery. This raises an urgent need for safe and potent adjuvants suitable for cutaneous vaccination. Many traditional adjuvants like aluminum-based adjuvants may not be appropriate for boosting cutaneous immunization because they evoke strong and persistent inflammation in the skin that would potentially breach its integrity with serious consequences. Laser vaccine adjuvant is induced by brief illumination of a small area of the skin with a safe, noninvasive laser prior to intradermal injection of the vaccine into the site of illumination. It does not stimulate overt inflammation or reactogenicity in the skin and boosts immune responses via enhancing the motility of antigen-presenting cells. Laser vaccine adjuvant is convenient, safe and ideal for augmentation of cutaneous immunization and has distinct advantages over conventional adjuvants, in particular when encountering vaccine shortages during an unpredictable event.