<p>Technology update: dissolvable microneedle patches for vaccine delivery</p>

Abstract

Despite vaccination representing one of the greatest advances of modern preventative medicine, there remain significant challenges in vaccine distribution, delivery and compliance. Dissolvable microarray patches or dissolving microneedles (DMN) have been proposed as an innovative vaccine delivery platform that could potentially revolutionize vaccine delivery and circumvent many of the challenges faced with current vaccine strategies. DMN, due to their ease of use, lack of elicitation of pain response, self-disabling nature and ease of transport and distribution, offer an attractive delivery option for vaccines. Additionally, as DMN inherently targets the uppermost skin layers, they facilitate improved vaccine efficacy, due to direct targeting of skin antigen-presenting cells. A plethora of publications have demonstrated the efficacy of DMN vaccination for a range of vaccines, with influenza receiving particular attention. However, before the viable adoption of DMN for vaccination purposes in a clinical setting, a number of fundamental questions must be addressed. Accordingly, this review begins by introducing some of the key barriers faced by current vaccination approaches and how DMN can overcome these challenges. We introduce some of the recent advances in the field of DMN technology, highlighting the potential impact DMN could have, particularly in countries of the developing world. We conclude by reflecting on some of the key questions that remain unanswered and which warrant further investigation before DMNs can be utilized in clinical settings.

Two-Photon Polymerisation 3D Printing of Microneedle Array Templates with Versatile Designs: Application in the Development of Polymeric Drug Delivery Systems

“…prepared in either dissolving or hydrogel-forming formulations. DMN arrays have attracted attention mainly due to their demonstrated ability to efficiently deliver hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs, vaccines and nanoparticles across the skin (34)(35)(36). On the other hand, HFMN arrays have shown their potential to be used, not only in the delivery of various drug molecules, but also in the extraction of skin interstitial fluid for diagnostic purposes (29,37).…”

A biodegradable microneedle sheet for intracorporeal topical hemostasis

“…Since then, microneedle technology has attracted extensive scientific and industrial interests due to its properties including painless penetration, relative safety, and low cost 8 . The postulated widespread applications of microneedle sheets include the delivery of insulin, vaccines, anti-inflammatory substances, and other pharmaceuticals 9 . While microneedle sheets are expected to become a highly efficient, patient-friendly, and versatile device 10 , most purported applications are extracorporeal or an intradermal.…”

Progress in Microneedle-Mediated Protein Delivery

“…Really, as stated by some published studies, the ability of microorganisms to cross the holes created in the skin by MN insertion seems to be negligible [147]. Some studies have demonstrated that by using solid silicon MNs, the crossing of Candida albicans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa pathogens through cell membranes is lower in comparison with the use of a 21G hypodermic needle [148]. Together with these results, another study performed by Wei-Ze et al [149] reported that rats cured with solid silicon MNs did not become septic by Staphylococcus aureus.…”