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A Rapidly Dissolvable Microneedle Patch with Tip-Accumulated Antigens for Efficient Transdermal Vaccination
Yanting Zheng1,2, Zhixin Ling2, Zhiming Li2
1College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China.
Macromolecular Bioscience
|August 8, 2023
Summary
Dissolvable microneedles (DMNs) offer a user-friendly vaccine delivery method. This new technique concentrates antigens in DMN tips, improving vaccine efficacy and reducing waste compared to traditional methods.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Vaccinology
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Dissolvable microneedles (DMNs) present a minimally invasive approach for vaccine delivery.
- Challenges with DMNs include vaccine waste and inaccurate dosing due to incomplete skin insertion, often caused by skin elasticity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel fabrication method for DMN patches to overcome antigen waste and dosage inaccuracies.
- To concentrate model antigens (Ovalbumin - OVA) in the DMN tips for efficient delivery.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a two-casting micromolding technique with centrifugal drying to fabricate hyaluronic acid DMN patches.
- Optimized centrifugal drying time and temperature to control antigen distribution within the needle tips.
- Evaluated DMN patch mechanical strength, skin penetration, and antigen release kinetics.
Main Results:
- The fabrication method successfully concentrated 60% of the antigen (OVA) in the DMN tips.
- DMN patches demonstrated sufficient mechanical strength for skin penetration and rapid antigen release (within 3 minutes).
- In vivo studies showed DMN immunization elicited superior humoral and cellular immunity compared to subcutaneous and intramuscular injections.
Conclusions:
- The developed DMN patch fabrication method effectively addresses antigen waste and dosage issues in microneedle-based vaccination.
- This biocompatible DMN patch represents a promising strategy for efficient, safe, and user-friendly vaccination, outperforming conventional methods.
