Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 28, 2026
Intralymphatic Immunotherapy and Vaccination in Mice
Published on: February 2, 2014
Low-volume jet injection for intradermal immunization in rabbits
Shuxun Ren1, Minglin Li, Joanne M Smith
1Department of Oncology, Lombardi Cancer Center, Georgetown University, 3970 Reservoir Rd, NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA. rs94@georgetown.edu
Background:
This study tested a low-volume (20-30 microl/20-30 microg DNA) jet injection method for intradermal delivery of a DNA vaccine. Jet injection offers the advantages of a needle-less system, low-cost, rapid preparation of the injected DNA solution, and a simple delivery system. More than one construct can be injected simultaneously and the method may be combined with adjuvants.
Results:
Low-volume jet injection targeted delivery of a DNA solution exclusively to the dermis and epidermis of rabbits. A three injection series of plasmid DNA, encoding the Hepatitis B Surface Antigen stimulated a humoral immune response in 2/5 rabbits. One rabbit developed a significant rise in antibody titer after 1 injection and one following 2 injections. There were no significant differences between jet injection and particle bombardment in the maximal antibody titers or number of injections before response. A three injection series of the same plasmid DNA by particle bombardment elicited a significant rise in antibody titer in 3/5 rabbits. One rabbit developed antibody after 1 injection and two after 3 injections. In contrast, 0/5 rabbits receiving DNA by needle and syringe injection responded. In the jet injection and particle bombardment groups, gene expression levels in the skin did not predict response. While immune responses were similar, luciferase gene expression levels in the skin following particle bombardment were 10-100 times higher than jet injection.
Conclusion:
Low-volume jet injection is a simple, effective methodology for intradermal DNA immunization.
