Scientists have developed a micro-needle vaccine, or microneedle, which is attached to the body like a patch. This vaccine promises a much greater immune response than the vaccine given by injection.
In addition, this vaccine is painless and can be a solution for those who are afraid of being injected. Microneedle vaccines have actually been in development for years. However, this vaccine method is difficult to produce on a large scale. What's more, it can be difficult to adapt the same "patch" to different types of vaccines.
Recent research addresses this problem with an advanced 3D printing technique called continuous liquid interface production (CLIP). This technique uses ultraviolet light and a special resin to create a patch that is consistent in size, shape, and needle spacing.
"Our approach allows for direct 3D printing of microneedles, giving us a lot of design freedom to create the best microneedles in terms of performance and cost," said microbiologist Shaomin Tian of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, US, quoted by Science Alert.
The ease and speed of developing this patch-style vaccine promises wider use. In addition to not needing conventional needle injections, another advantage of this kind of vaccine is that it can be used alone, so there is no need to make an appointment with a doctor or nurse to get an injection .
This is because the microneedle only needs to penetrate just below the surface layer of the skin (transdermal), and does not need to penetrate it (subcutaneously) like traditional vaccines.
Thus, the drug is directly delivered to the surrounding skin immune cells, which is perfect for vaccines. With a more efficient delivery system, it is possible that the dose can also be reduced.
Tests on mice
In laboratory tests on mice, the researchers found that this patch vaccine produced T-cell and antigen-specific antibody responses about 50 times greater than traditional subcutaneous injections given under the surface of the skin.
"Using components of the vaccine model, the results show that drug delivery via an embedded microneedle results in increased skin cargo retention, immune cell activation, and stronger humoral and cellular immune responses compared to traditional vaccination routes," the researchers explain in their paper. .
The team said the design and approach could be adapted to apply to flu, measles, hepatitis and even COVID-19 vaccines. This vaccine innovation also does not require special handling or cold temperatures during the shipping process, so it will help increase vaccination rates.
So far, this method has not been tested on humans. Researchers must ensure that similar benefits emerge in humans, thereby enabling faster and more efficient vaccine responses to future epidemics and pandemics.
"In developing this technology, we hope to set the groundwork for faster global vaccine development, at lower doses, in a pain and anxiety-free manner," said chemical engineer Joseph DeSimone of Stanford University.
