Since the advent of nanoparticle technology, novel and versatile properties of nanomaterials have been introduced, which has constantly expanded their applications in therapeutics. Introduction of nanomaterials for immunomodulation has opened up new avenues with tremendous potential. Interesting properties of nanoparticles, such as adjuvanticity, capability to enhance cross-presentation, polyvalent presentation, siRNA delivery for silencing of immunesuppressive gene, targeting and imaging of immune cells have been known to have immense utility in vaccination and immunotherapy. A thorough understanding of the merits associated with nanomaterials is crucial for designing of modular and versatile nanovaccines, for improved immune response. With the emerging prerequisites of vaccination, nanomaterial-based immune stimulation, seems to be capable of taking the field of immunization to a next higher level.
Keywords: adjuvant; antigen; antigen presenting cells; cross-presentation; immune response; nanoparticle; vaccine.