Transcutaneous immunization using microneedles and cubosomes: Mechanistic investigations using Optical Coherence...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Dermatology
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Transcutaneous immunization (TCI) presents a needle-free vaccination alternative with significant benefits.
• A primary obstacle to TCI is the stratum corneum (SC) barrier, hindering antigen penetration to deeper skin layers.
• Strategies like microneedles (MNs) and advanced delivery systems are explored to overcome SC penetration challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the synergistic potential of microneedles (MNs) and cubosomes for enhancing transcutaneous vaccine delivery.
• To investigate the penetration and permeation of peptide antigens through the skin using this combined approach.

Main Methods:

• Utilized microneedles (MNs) and lipid-based cubosomes for antigen delivery.
• Employed Optical Coherence Tomography and two-photon microscopy for quantitative and qualitative analysis of skin penetration.
• Assessed the permeation of an aqueous peptide mixture, cubosome-formulated peptide, and cubosomes through skin.

Main Results:

• Microneedles alone enhanced the permeation of an aqueous peptide mixture through the skin.
• Cubosomes, both with and without peptide, were observed to be retained within the skin layers.
• The study demonstrated differential penetration characteristics of MNs and cubosomes.

Conclusions:

• A combined approach utilizing microneedles and cubosomes is proposed as an effective strategy for localized antigen delivery.
• This synergistic system aims to target immunocompetent cells within the skin for enhanced immune responses.
• Further research is warranted to optimize this combined delivery system for transcutaneous immunization applications.