A low-invasive and effective transcutaneous immunization system using a novel dissolving microneedle array for soluble and particulate antigens.
Transcutaneous immunization (TCI) is a promising needle-free, easy-to-use, and low-invasive vaccination method. The hydrogel patch-based TCI system induced immune responses against soluble antigens (Ags) like toxoids, but could not induce immune responses against particulate Ags. Here, as an effective TCI system against every form of Ag, we developed a dissolving microneedle array of three lengths (200, 300, or 800 μm) made of hyaluronate as a novel TCI device. Unlike conventional microneedles, the microneedles of our dissolving microneedle arrays dissolved in the skin after insertion. Each dissolving microneedle array effectively delivered both soluble and particulate Ags under the stratum corneum. TCI using these dissolving microneedle arrays induced effective immune responses in rats regardless of the Ag form that were comparable to conventional vaccination using subcutaneous immunization. In addition, application of these dissolving microneedle arrays caused only slight skin irritation. These findings suggest that our TCI system can simply, safely, and effectively improve protective immune responses for every vaccine Ag.
Department of Biotechnology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Kazuhiko
K
Matsuo
Yayoi
Y
Yokota
You
Y
Zhai
Ying-Shu
YS
Quan
Fumio
F
Kamiyama
Yohei
Y
Mukai
Naoki
N
Okada
Shinsaku
S
Nakagawa
D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000276:immunology; D000257:Adenoviridae Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D057968:Transdermal Patch; D014611:Vaccination / Q000295:instrumentation*
D000941:Antigens; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D010047:Ovalbumin