A new special plaster replaces the scary "injection needle"

Much friendlier to the patient

Guangsheng Du has studied the use of micro-needles and nanoparticles as a new vaccination system. "I want to develop a much more user-friendly method for patients." He defended his thesis last Tuesday.

Microneedles and Nanoparticles

In his research, Du combined micro-needles and nanoparticles to take the first steps towards a new method of vaccination. "With microneedles, you can give vaccines that do not need to be punctured by the skin, and an effective immune response can be triggered without pain," says Du.

Immune Response

– Second, nanoparticle-based vaccines have the potential to enhance the immunogenicity of antigens: their ability to elicit an immune response in the body. We can regulate immune responses by adjusting the characteristics of these nanoparticles. "Because of the unique properties and benefits of both methods, more and more studies are focusing on the combination of microneedle and nanoparticle technology to improve the immune response." by a more patient-friendly method

Testing

Du has developed two types of systems: the hollow micro-needles with which he could inject the nanoparticle vaccine and the microneedles he has coated with the micro-needle vaccine) The type of microneedle and the type of nanoparticles, as well as their physicochemical properties, have been shown to have a significant influence on the immune system reactions, with hollow needles, for example, Du discovered only smaller ones. Controlled release nanoparticles were correlated with a more potent effect in order to test these effects and determine the needles, particles and mode of action. In the most effective injection, Du mice measured the response of antibodies and immune cells in the body after each administration

A New Generation of Vaccines

& # 39; Micro-needles appear to be a promising method of administration for vaccination. People can apply microneedles themselves to dramatically reduce the company's costs of immunization, "Du said. And, according to him, costs can be further reduced because nano-vaccines containing a lower dose of antigens can get as strong immune response as a normal vaccine. "This is because the antigen transformed into nanoparticles has a higher immunogenicity than an antigen free solution. The use of nanoparticles will therefore help to reduce the necessary dose of antigen in a vaccine and thus further reduce the costs of vaccination.

Increase the willingness to vaccinate

Finally, Du think that micro-drugs will increase the will of patients because its application is less frightening and painless. "Hope this will increase immunization coverage," he adds. "If future research and clinical trials are successful, microneedles can represent a new generation of vaccination methods."

Small patch on skin

Microneedles are applied to the skin using a small patch Because of their small size, they only penetrate the stratum corneum (the outer barrier layer of the skin), after which they release their active ingredients on the skin.Experience experts claim that the needles look like to a cat's tongue or a nail file The depth of injection is so small that the micro-needles do not touch the nerves or the blood vessels.