Methods for inducing an immune response via buccal and/or sublingual administration of a vaccine

Abstract

Vaccine compositions that may be administered to a subject via the buccal and/or sublingual mucosa are provided. Methods for administration and preparation of such vaccine compositions are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of delivering a viral vector to a subject comprising, administering a composition comprising poly(maleic anhydride-alt-1 octadecene) and the viral vector to the subject. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the poly(maleic anhydride-alt-1 octadecene) is substituted with 3-(dimethylamino) propylamine. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a water-soluble polymer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a salt. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a sugar or sugar derivative. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the sugar or sugar derivative is selected from group consisting of: glucose, dextrose, fructose, lactose, maltose, xylose, sucrose, corn sugar syrup, sorbitol, hexitol, maltilol, xylitol, mannitol, melezitose, raffinose, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered orally to the subject. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is in liquid form. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the composition is formed by dispersing the viral vector within a solution of poly(maleic anhydride-alt-1 octadecene) at ambient temperatures to form a mixture. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is in dry form. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the dry form is an amorphous, substantially solid film, which is soluble in an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the composition is produced by a method comprising:
 (i) dispersing the viral vector within an aqueous solution comprising the poly(maleic anhydride-alt-1 octadecene); and   (ii) drying the solution.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein drying is at an ambient temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising casting the mixture onto a backing surface prior to drying the mixture. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is peeled from the backing prior to administration. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the backing surface is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, Teflon, silicate, polyetheretherketone, low density polyethylene, and ethyl cellulose. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the amorphous, substantially solid film, has a thickness of about 0.05 millimeters to about 5 millimeters. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the viral vector encodes a heterologous polypeptide. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the viral vector is an adenovirus viral vector. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the viral vector is present in an amount of from about 1×10 6  to about 1×10 13  virus particles.