Overview

• Floss-based delivery targets the junctional epithelium in the gingival sulcus, leveraging its natural leakiness to introduce vaccine antigens.
• In mice, floss-coated vaccines for proteins, inactivated viruses and mRNA triggered robust mucosal and systemic antibody responses and protected against influenza infection.
• Human volunteer tests with dye-coated floss picks achieved about 60% deposition in the gum pocket among 27 participants, demonstrating practical feasibility.
• The needle-free approach offers ease of transport, storage and self-administration, potentially eliminating the need for medical personnel and reducing needle anxiety.
• Researchers are preparing clinical trials and will investigate the method’s efficacy in toothless infants and individuals with gum disease or oral infections.