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Updated: Jul 22, 2026

Skin Tattooing As A Novel Approach For DNA Vaccine Delivery
Published on: October 18, 2012
Advances in vaccine delivery: transcutaneous immunisation
G M Glenn1, T Scharton-Kersten, C R Alving
1IOMAI Corporation, 2421 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington DC 20037-1723, USA. gglenn@iomai.co
Abstract:
Needle-free delivery of vaccines has become a global priority. Transcutaneous immunisation (TCI), topical application of vaccine antigens to the skin, can elicit systemic antibody and T-cell responses, suggesting that this new technique may provide a means for vaccination without needles. TCI requires the use of an adjuvant such as cholera toxin added to a vaccine antigen, such as diphtheria toxoid, to induce antibodies to diphtheria toxoid. The adjuvant and antigen are thought to target Langerhans cells, potent antigen-presenting cells found in the superficial layers of the skin. TCI appears to be a highly practical technique for delivery of vaccines that provides unique access to the immune system.
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