Advances in Cationic Nanoparticles for Vaccine Delivery: Design, Mechanisms, and Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Cationic nanoparticles (cNPs) and adjuvants are emerging as transformative tools in vaccine research, offering innovative solutions to enhance antigen delivery and immunogenicity. Their positive charge facilitates strong electrostatic interactions with negatively charged cell membranes, promoting efficient cellular uptake and improved antigen presentation. These properties make cNPs well suited for delivering diverse vaccine types, including protein-based, viral vector, and nucleic acid vaccines. At the same time, cationic adjuvants amplify immune responses, enabling robust and long-lasting immunity with reduced doses and fewer administrations.

Given the pressing need for effective vaccine platforms to address global health challenges, this Special Issue, “Advances in Cationic Nanoparticles for Vaccine Delivery: Design, Mechanisms, and Applications”, invites cutting-edge research on the development, characterization, and application of cationic nanoparticles and adjuvants. The Special Issue seeks to address fundamental and translational aspects to accelerate next-generation vaccine innovation for both prophylactic and therapeutic applications.

We particularly encourage contributions that achieve the following:

• Focus on vaccines for high-priority global health targets, including both infectious diseases (e.g., HIV, malaria, tuberculosis) and therapeutic applications like cancer.
• Explore how cNPs can support dose-sparing strategies, improve accessibility, or enhance vaccine stability outside cold-chain environments.
• Integrate experimental and computational approaches to enhance understanding and predict vaccine safety and efficacy.

Dr. Lídia Maria Diogo Gonçalves
Dr. Yunys Pérez-Betancourt
Guest Editors

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