High Yield Electrospinning System for mRNA Vaccine Delivery

The University of Sheffield School of Clinical Dentistry has developed an innovative microfiber-based mucoadhesive oral matrix technology for delivering drugs and therapeutics directly to the oral mucosa. This patient-acceptable technology has been clinically evaluated in human studies and is recognized as world-leading research. The team has successfully demonstrated the ability to incorporate and release various lipophilic compounds, peptides, and proteins while maintaining functional activity and achieving high loading efficiency. The patches are manufactured using electrospinning, a voltage-driven technique that uses electrostatic forces to create flexible micro- and nanofibers capable of conforming to wet, curved, and dynamic surfaces. This manufacturing method provides excellent surface-to-volume ratios, enabling efficient drug loading and release with sustained mucoadhesive interactions and prolonged tissue residence time. Following a recent UKRI Engineering Biology Mission Award for adapting this technology to mRNA vaccine delivery, the team seeks a high-yield electrospinning system to scale up production and advance clinical development. This is an opportunity to supply specialized laboratory equipment that will support cutting-edge vaccine delivery research and manufacturing capabilities.