Juanita Johnson | PubMed Health

PubMed2005

Effect of delivery parameters on immunization to ovalbumin following intracutaneous administration by a coated microneedle array patch system.

Immunization to the model antigen ovalbumin was investigated using a novel intracutaneous delivery system consisting of antigen-coated microneedle arrays. The influence of the following parameters on the resulting immune responses was investigated: depth of vaccine delivery, dose of vaccine delivered, density of microneedles on the array, and area of application. The immune response was found to be dose dependent, and mostly independent of depth of delivery, density of microneedles, or area of application. Our studies show that the shortest, most tolerable microneedle arrays can be used for achieving consistent and high antibody titers. Overall, the microneedle array proves to be a very versatile delivery technology, allowing easy and reproducible antigen delivery to skin for efficient vaccination without the use of a needle and syringe.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

PubMed2002

Macroflux microprojection array patch technology: a new and efficient approach for intracutaneous immunization.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the Macroflux microprojection array patch technology as a novel system for intracutaneous delivery of protein antigens. METHODS: Macroflux microprojection array systems (330-microm micro-projection length, 190 microprojections/cm2, 1- and 2-cm2 area) were coated with a model protein antigen, ovalbumin (OVA), to produce a dry-film coating. After system application, microprojection penetration depth, OVA delivery, and comparative immune responses were evaluated in a hairless guinea pig model. RESULTS: Macroflux microprojections penetrated into hairless guinea pig skin at an average depth of 100 microm with no projections deeper than 300 microm. Doses of I to 80 microg of OVA were delivered via 1- or 2-cm2 systems by varying the coating solution concentration and wearing time. Delivery rates were as high as 20 microg in 5 s. In a prime and boost dose immune response study, OVA-coated Macroflux was most comparable to equivalent doses injected intradermally. Higher antibody titers were observed when OVA was administered with the microprojection array or intradermally at low doses (1 and 5 microg). Macroflux administration at 1- and 5-microg doses gave immune responses up to 50-fold greater than that observed after the same subcutaneous or intramuscular dose. Dry coating an adjuvant, glucosaminyl muramyl dipeptide, with OVA on the Macroflux resulted in augmented antibody responses. CONCLUSIONS: Macroflux skin patch technology provides rapid and reproducible intracutaneous administration of dry-coated antigen. The depth of skin penetration targets skin immune cells; the quantity of antigen delivered can be controlled by formulation, patch wearing time, and system size. This novel needle-free patch technology may ultimately have broad applications for a wide variety of therapeutic vaccines to improve efficacy and convenience of use.

Administration, Cutaneous↗