{"60096":{"#nid":"60096","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Vaccine-Delivery Patch with Dissolving Microneedles Boosts Protection","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA new vaccine-delivery patch based on hundreds of microscopic needles that dissolve into the skin could allow persons without medical training to painlessly administer vaccines -- while providing improved immunization against diseases such as influenza.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPatches containing micron-scale needles that carry vaccine with them as they dissolve into the skin could simplify immunization programs by eliminating the use of hypodermic needles -- and their \u0022sharps\u0022 disposal and re-use concerns. Applied easily to the skin, the microneedle patches could allow self-administration of vaccine during pandemics and simplify large-scale immunization programs in developing nations. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDetails of the dissolving microneedle patches and immunization benefits observed in experimental mice were reported July 18th in the advance online publication of the journal \u003Cem\u003ENature Medicine\u003C\/em\u003E. Conducted by researchers from Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology, the study is believed to be the first to evaluate the immunization benefits of dissolving microneedles. The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022In this study, we have shown that a dissolving microneedle patch can vaccinate against influenza at least as well, and probably better than, a traditional hypodermic needle,\u0022 said Mark Prausnitz, a professor in the Georgia Tech School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJust 650 microns in length and assembled into an array of 100 needles for the mouse study, the dissolving microneedles penetrate the outer layers of skin. Beyond their other advantages, the dissolving microneedles appear to provide improved immunity to influenza when compared to vaccination with hypodermic needles. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022The skin is a particularly attractive site for immunization because it contains an abundance of the types of cells that are important in generating immune responses to vaccines,\u0022 said Richard Compans, professor of microbiology and immunology at Emory University School of Medicine. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the study, one group of mice received the influenza vaccine using traditional hypodermic needles injecting into muscle; another group received the vaccine through dissolving microneedles applied to the skin, while a control group had microneedle patches containing no vaccine applied to their skin. When infected with influenza virus 30 days later, both groups that had received the vaccine remained healthy while mice in the control group contracted the disease and died. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThree months after vaccination, the researchers also exposed a different group of immunized mice to flu virus and found that animals vaccinated with microneedles appeared to have a better \u0022recall\u0022 response to the virus and thus were able to clear the virus from their lungs more effectively than those that received vaccine with hypodermic needles. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Another advantage of these microneedles is that the vaccine is present as a dry formulation, which will enhance its stability during distribution and storage,\u0022 said Ioanna Skountzou, an Emory University assistant professor. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPressed into the skin, the microneedles quickly dissolve in bodily fluids, leaving only the water-soluble backing. The backing can be discarded because it no longer contains any sharps. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022We envision people getting the patch in the mail or at a pharmacy and then self administering it at home,\u0022 said Sean Sullivan, the study\u2019s lead author from Georgia Tech. \u0022Because the microneedles on the patch dissolve away into the skin, there would be no dangerous sharp needles left over.\u0022 \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe microneedle arrays were made from a polymer material, poly-vinyl pyrrolidone, that has been shown to be safe for use in the body. Freeze-dried vaccine was mixed with the vinyl-pyrrolidone monomer before being placed into microneedle molds and polymerized at room temperature using ultraviolet light. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn many parts of the world, poor medical infrastructure leads to the re-use of hypodermic needles, contributing to the spread of diseases such as HIV and hepatitis B. Dissolving microneedle patches would eliminate re-use while allowing vaccination to be done by personnel with minimal training. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThough the study examined only the administration of flu vaccine with the dissolving microneedles, the technique should be useful for other immunizations. If mass-produced, the microneedle patches are expected to cost about the same as conventional needle-and-syringe techniques, and may lower the overall cost of immunization programs by reducing personnel costs and waste disposal requirements, Prausnitz said. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore dissolving microneedles can be made widely available, however, clinical studies will have to be done to assure safety and effectiveness. Other vaccine formulation techniques may also be studied, and researchers will want to better understand why vaccine delivery with dissolving microneedles has been shown to provide better protection. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeyond those already mentioned, the study involved Jeong-Woo Lee, Vladimir Zarnitsyn, Seong-O Choi and Niren Murthy from Georgia Tech, and Dimitrios Koutsonanos and Maria del Pilar Martin from Emory University. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022The dissolving microneedle patch could open up many new doors for immunization programs by eliminating the need for trained personnel to carry out the vaccination,\u0022 Prausnitz said. \u0022This approach could make a significant impact because it could enable self-administration as well as simplify vaccination programs in schools and assisted living facilities.\u0022 \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EResearch News \u0026amp; Publications Office\u003Cbr \/\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003Cbr \/\u003E75 Fifth Street, N.W., Suite 314\u003Cbr \/\u003EAtlanta, Georgia 30308 USA\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMedia Relations Contacts\u003C\/strong\u003E: John Toon, Georgia Tech (404-894-6986) (\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jtoon@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ejtoon@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E), Holly Korschun, Emory University (404-727-3990) (\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:hkorsch@emory.edu\u0022\u003Ehkorsch@emory.edu\u003C\/a\u003E) or Abby Vogel Robinson, Georgia Tech (404-385-3364) (\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:abby@innovate.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eabby@innovate.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E). \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWriter\u003C\/strong\u003E: John Toon \u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Device Replaces Hypodermic Needles to Eliminate Sharp Waste"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA new vaccine-delivery patch based on hundreds of microscopic needles that dissolve into the skin could allow persons without medical training to painlessly administer vaccines \u2013 while providing improved immunization against diseases such as influenza.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Dissolving microneedles offer a new vaccine-delivery solution"}],"uid":"27303","created_gmt":"2010-07-18 00:00:00","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:07:11","author":"John Toon","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2010-07-18T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2010-07-18T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"60097":{"id":"60097","type":"image","title":"Dissolving microneedles on fingertip","body":null,"created":"1449176239","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 20:57:19","changed":"1475894520","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:42:00","alt":"Dissolving microneedles on fingertip","file":{"fid":"191051","name":"tvn90868.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/tvn90868_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/tvn90868_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":428627,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/tvn90868_0.jpg?itok=xMfYfs6L"}},"60098":{"id":"60098","type":"image","title":"Dissolving microneedles on application.","body":null,"created":"1449176239","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 20:57:19","changed":"1475894520","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:42:00","alt":"Dissolving microneedles on application.","file":{"fid":"191052","name":"tvw90868.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/tvw90868_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/tvw90868_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":534894,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/tvw90868_0.jpg?itok=Rmz19FrN"}},"60099":{"id":"60099","type":"image","title":"Dissolving microneedles after on minute.","body":null,"created":"1449176239","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 20:57:19","changed":"1475894520","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:42:00","alt":"Dissolving microneedles after on minute.","file":{"fid":"191053","name":"tjx90868.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/tjx90868_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/tjx90868_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":603655,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/tjx90868_0.jpg?itok=l_cGfqS2"}}},"media_ids":["60097","60098","60099"],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/fac_staff\/faculty\/prausnitz.php","title":"Mark Prausnitz"},{"url":"http:\/\/microbiology.emory.edu\/compans_r.html","title":"Richard Compans"},{"url":"http:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/","title":"School of Chemical \u0026 Biomolecular Engineering"},{"url":"http:\/\/www.med.emory.edu\/","title":"Emory University School of Medicine"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"141","name":"Chemistry and Chemical Engineering"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"147","name":"Military Technology"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"296","name":"Flu"},{"id":"764","name":"immunization"},{"id":"765","name":"influenza"},{"id":"494","name":"Microneedle"},{"id":"170850","name":"skin"},{"id":"763","name":"vaccine"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJohn Toon\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EResearch News \u0026amp; Publications Office\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/contact\/index.html?id=jt7\u0022\u003EContact John Toon\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E404-894-6986\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jtoon@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}