COVID vaccine in nasal spray: Israeli researchers help develop needle-free inoculation

For the first time, researchers at Tel Aviv University and the University of Lisbon say they have developed an effective, inexpensive and simple COVID-19 vaccine that can be stored at room temperature and administered as a nasal spray.

The discovery might enable easier vaccination of at-risk populations in low-income countries and remote regions.

The research was inspired by a decade of research on cancer vaccines, said Prof. Ronit Satchi-Fainaro of Tel Aviv University’s Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences and Professor Helena Florindo’s lab at the University of Lisbon.

Using computational tools, the researchers identified two “short and simple amino acid sequences” in the COVID-19 virus’s protein.

“We synthesized them and encapsulated them into a nano-vaccine that is needle-free and administered as a nasal spray,” Satchi-Fainaro said.

The nano-vaccine proved effective against all major variants of COVID-19, including Beta, Delta, Omicron and others, the scientists said. Currently, most vaccines use mRNA technology for COVID-19.

The study was published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Advanced Science.

‘You just mix the powder in saline’

Satchi-Fainaro said another major advantage of the nano-vaccine is its minimal storage requirements. The synthetic nano-particles are durable and can be stored at room temperature.

This undated, colorized electron microscope image made available by the US National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, indicated in yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, indicated in blue/pink, cultured in the lab. (NIAID-RML via AP, File)

“There is no need for freezing or special handling,” Satchi-Fainaro said. “You just mix the powder in saline to create the spray.”

The researchers said that the new vaccine also eliminates the need for nurses or technicians to administer injections while reducing risks of contamination and medical waste.

“Anyone can use a nasal spray with no prior training,” Satchi-Fainaro said.

The project has received competitive research grants from the Israel Innovation Authority and Spain’s “La Caixa” Foundation. It is also part of a broader vaccine platform development program supported by a European Research Council Advanced Grant.