The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of GB is reporting that scientists from the Welsh School of Pharmacy in Cardiff teamed up with a group from Tyndall National Institute in Ireland and developed a revolutionary needle-free injection system. The device was presented yesterday at the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Manchester:
Scientists from the Welsh School of Pharmacy in Cardiff are working towards genetic vaccination, whereby DNA is introduced directly into cells, which leads to the production of an antigen that stimulates an immune response. So, rather than injecting antigen as with standard vaccines, the new method involves injection of DNA encoding for that antigen.
However, whilst researching this exciting new method, researchers came across a specific problem: the outer layer of skin (stratum corneum) has low permeability and poor retention of the injected DNA at the injection site.
To overcome this difficulty the Cardiff researchers teamed up with local clinicians and engineers at Tyndall National Institute, Ireland, to develop innovative pain-free microneedles that bypass the outer layer of skin. These needles are long enough to cross the permeability barrier, but not long enough to reach the pain receptors.
Dr James Birchall, Head of the Gene Delivery Research Group, explains: “The microneedles create temporary channels in the skin surface to allow vaccine into the immune-responsive skin layers. The idea is that the DNA will then produce its antigen which is recognised in the skin, producing an immune response.”
To ensure that the DNA stays in place long enough to produce the optimum immune response, the researchers have designed a sustained release delivery system. Dr Birchall says: “Our idea was that having made microchannels, we could place a hydrogel containing the DNA into the channels. The gel will solidify in the channels, creating a reservoir of DNA vaccine in the skin.”
As the hydrogel is designed to release DNA over a more prolonged period than using a solution or powder, this might lead to an enhanced immune response and possibly reduce the number of booster vaccines needed.
In in vitro studies launched at the Conference, the hydrogel/microneedle system was used to deliver a ‘reporter’ gene into ‘live’ human skin (obtained after surgery). The studies showed that the microneedles could successfully deliver DNA to the skin and that the injected DNA expressed its antigen. “These delivery platforms warrant further investigations for their potential in the administration of genetic vaccines via the skin,” Dr Birchall said.
The press release (.pdf)…
More at the BBC News…