Dissolving undercut microneedle arrays for multicomponent cutaneous vaccination

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Immunology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• The skin is an accessible vaccination site due to abundant immune cells.
• Microneedle arrays (MNAs) offer a promising strategy for cutaneous immunization.
• Existing methods for fabricating complex MNAs are often limited and labor-intensive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel dissolving undercut microneedle arrays (MNAs) for effective multicomponent cutaneous vaccination.
• To demonstrate a streamlined manufacturing process for these advanced MNAs.
• To evaluate the immunogenicity of vaccines delivered via MNAs compared to traditional methods.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of dissolving undercut MNAs using a combination of 3D laser lithography and micromolding.
• Tip-loading of MNAs with multiple vaccine components, including antigen (ovalbumin) and adjuvant (Poly(I:C)).
• Assessment of MNA penetration efficacy in human and murine skin and evaluation of immune responses in mice post-vaccination.

Main Results:

• The developed MNAs possess undercut structures enabling successful skin penetration and retention.
• Reproducible production of MNAs capable of carrying multiple vaccine payloads was achieved.
• Cutaneous vaccination with MNAs induced stronger antigen-specific cellular and humoral immune responses than intramuscular injection.

Conclusions:

• The novel dissolving undercut MNAs provide an effective platform for multicomponent cutaneous vaccination.
• The advanced manufacturing technique allows for precise loading of diverse therapeutic agents.
• These MNAs hold potential for various drug delivery applications beyond vaccination.