Texas A&M University researchers are developing a nose spray flu vaccine that uses aloe vera as its carrier.

"We take Aloe vera leaves and put them through a series of complex extraction steps to produce a chemically pure powder, and then we combine the flu vaccine with it," he explains.

"When this powder vaccine is puffed into the nose, it forms a jelly-like substance that clings to the inside of the nose and is absorbed into the body much more effectively. It stays longer and it has more time to do its work."

Tizard says one or two puffs into the nose is all that's needed in most cases to get good results. "This powder form is more effective than a liquid spray because the nose tends to clear liquid sprays out, while the powder turns into a sticky gel and can be a much more potent vaccine.

In addition, since the vaccine is in powder form, it can be stored for a longer period of time. The researchers say that animal trials have been successful and human trials are planned for next year. The project is funded in part by a $6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health awarded to DelSite Biotechnologies in conjunction with the Texas A&M teams.

Source: EurekAlert