
This microneedle patch could someday replace a needle for delivering COVID-19 vaccines.
Credit: Adapted from ACS Nano 2021, DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c03252
More than 2 billion people worldwide are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. However, many who live in resource-limited countries haven’t been able to get vaccines, partly because these areas lack temperature-controlled shipping and storage facilities. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Nano have developed a microneedle patch that delivers a COVID-19 DNA vaccine into the skin, causing strong immune responses in cells and mice. Importantly, the patch can be stored for over 30 days at room temperature.
To date, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized three vaccines for use during the COVID-19 pandemic: one based on protein, and two on RNA. All of them must be kept refrigerated or frozen, which limits their distribution to remote or resource-limited areas. In addition, the vaccines must be administered by a healthcare worker as an injection into a muscle. Because immune cells aren’t typically found in muscles, scientists have investigated various ways to deliver vaccines into the skin, which contains abundant antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and could therefore generate a stronger immune response. Hui Li, Guangjun Nie, Hai Wang and colleagues wanted to develop a microneedle patch that efficiently delivers a COVID-19 vaccine under the skin, causing potent and durable immunity without the need for a cold chain or painful injections.
The researchers based their vaccine on DNA, which is easier to make than RNA or protein. It’s also more stable than RNA. However, in clinical trials, intramuscular DNA vaccines have been limited in their effectiveness because, unlike RNA or protein, the DNA must find its way inside the cell nucleus to work. By delivering the vaccine into APC-rich skin rather than muscle, the researchers reasoned that they could increase the chances that the DNA would enter the nucleus of an APC.
To make their delivery system, the team attached DNA sequences encoding either the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein or nucleocapsid protein to the surface of non-toxic nanoparticles. Inside the nanoparticles was an adjuvant — a molecule that helps stimulate an immune response. Then, the researchers coated a microneedle patch with the vaccine nanoparticles. The small rectangular patch contained 100 biodegradable microneedles, each less than 1/10 the diameter of a bee’s stinger, that could painlessly penetrate the skin’s outer layer. The researchers tested the system in mice, showing that the spike-protein-encoding microneedle patch caused strong antibody and T-cell responses, with no observable side effects. Because the vaccine patches can be stored at room temperature for at least 30 days without losing efficacy, they could be an important tool for developing COVID-19 vaccines with global accessibility, the researchers say.
Original Article: Microneedle patch delivers COVID-19 DNA vaccine; doesn’t require cold storage
More from: American Chemical Society | Chinese Academy of Sciences
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Microneedle patch
- Dynamic Dyna Patch Pro Spackling 236mlon November 27, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Dyna Patch is a professional grade, ready-to-use patching and spackling compound for repairing and smoothing cracks, holes, nail holes and splits in drywall, plaster, wood, wallboard, or metal doors.
- Revolutionary Breakthrough: Scientists Develop Pain-Free Skin Patch for Drug Delivery, Eliminating the Need for Large Needleson November 20, 2023 at 1:49 pm
An affordable microneedle skin patch that delivers a controlled dosage of medicine directly into the body, eliminating the need for injections or oral medication, has been developed by a team led by ...
- Cancer patch test could mean fewer painful biopsieson November 18, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Sydney-based genomics specialist Stefan Mazy is developing a world-first microneedle patch that could make screening for potential skin cancer a simple at home test, alleviating the need for ...
- Sydney doctor develops skin cancer patch test that could mean fewer painful biopsies after mum’s ordealon November 18, 2023 at 3:48 am
Sydney-based genomics specialist Stefan Mazy is developing a world-first microneedle patch that could make screening for potential skin cancer a simple at home test, alleviating the need for invasive ...
- Microneedle Patch Technologies: Innovations in Drug Deliveryon November 15, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Phase-transition microneedle patches are designed to deliver drugs in a controlled and sustained manner. These patches consist of a matrix of solid microneedles embedded within a temperature-sensitive ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Microneedle patch
[google_news title=”” keyword=”microneedle patch” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Biodegradable microneedles
- Fact Check: Biodegradable Burial Pods Turn Human Bodies Into Trees?on November 15, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Biodegradable burial pods that contain cremated human remains turn bodies into trees. Rating: Context: Bodies don't go into the pods. Rather, cremated human remains are placed in the biodegradable ...
- Cif Biodegradable Kitchen Wipeson October 30, 2023 at 1:07 am
These cleaning wipes will leave your kitchen sparkling clean by removing grease and dirt. Our kitchen wipes are made with 100% biodegradable plant fibres* and 0% plastic to ensure no compromise on the ...
- Biodegradable paper plateson August 15, 2023 at 11:33 pm
Chinet and Hefty Basic paper plates claim they are biodegradable and promise to breakdown quickly in a compost pile. Consumer Reports tested and compared them to regular paper plates.
- Biodegradable Polymers for Biomedical Applicationson August 3, 2023 at 5:53 am
Biodegradable polymer is an important class of polymers due to its good biodegradability and biocompatibility. The research and application of biodegradable polymers in biomedical fields have ...
- How can biodegradable and compostable materials enhance circular economy and social impact?on March 16, 2023 at 10:38 pm
Biodegradable and compostable materials are materials that can be broken down by natural processes, such as bacteria, fungi, or worms, into harmless substances, such as water, carbon dioxide, or ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Biodegradable microneedles
[google_news title=”” keyword=”biodegradable microneedles” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]