Abstract: The invention deals with the transport of preferably large molecules across nasal mucosa by means of specially designed, highly adaptable carriers loaded with said molecules. One of the purposes of making such formulations is to achieve non-invasive systemic delivery of therapeutic polypeptides, proteins and other macromolecules; the other intent is to overcome circumstantially the blood-brain barrier by exploiting the nasal cavity to enter the body and then to get access to the brain. A third intent is to achieve successful protective or tolerogenic immunization via nasal antigen or allergen administration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel vaccines for the non-invasive, transcutaneous administration of antigens associated with ultradeformable carriers, for the purpose of prophylactic or therapeutic vaccination. The vaccines comprise (a) a transdermal carrier which is a penetrant, (b) a compound which specifically releases or specifically induces cytokine or anticytokine activity or exerts such an activity itself, (c) an antigen, an allergen, a mixture of antigens andlor a mixture of allergens, and (d) a chemical irritant. The invention further relates to methods for the vaccination of mammals for obtaining a protective or therapeutic immune response.