title: Influenza immunization with trehalose-stabilized virus-like particle vaccine using microneedles.
abstract: Morbidity and mortality due to seasonal and pandemic influenza could be reduced by simpler vaccination methods that enable improved vaccination coverage. In this study, solid metal microneedles coated with influenza virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine were inserted into skin for intradermal immunization. Microneedles were applied to the skin by hand and designed for simple administration with little or no training. Inclusion of trehalose in the coating formulation significantly increased vaccine stability during coating by maintaining hemagglutination activity. Mice vaccinated with stabilized microneedles developed strong antibody responses comparable to conventional intramuscular vaccination and were fully protected against subsequent viral challenge. Whereas, coating microneedles with a coating solution lacking trehalose led to only partial protection against lethal viral challenge. Therefore, our results show that microneedles coated with trehalose-stabilized VLP vaccine can be a promising tool for improving influenza vaccination.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology.
authors.forename: Yeu-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Fu-Shi
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.forename: Jae-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Aswani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vunnava
authors.forename: Dae-Goon
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Kyoung-Mi
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Compans
authors.forename: Sang-Moo
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Prausnitz