Enhancement of Skin Permeation and Skin Immunization of Ovalbumin Antigen <Emphasis Type="Italic">via</Emphasis> Microneedles

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of different types of microneedles and doses of ovalbumin antigen for in vitro skin permeation and in vivo immunization. In vitro skin permeation experiments and confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that hollow microneedles had a superior enhancing effect on skin permeation compared with a solid microneedle patch and untreated skin by efficiently delivering ovalbumin-fluorescein conjugate into the deep skin layers. The flux and cumulative amount of ovalbumin-fluorescein conjugate at 8 h after administering with various conditions could be ranked as follows: hollow MN; high dose?>?medium dose?>?low dose?>?MN patch; high dose?>?medium dose?>?low dose?>?untreated skin; high dose?>?medium dose?>?low dose?>?without ovalbumin-fluorescein conjugate. As the dose of ovalbumin-fluorescein conjugate was increased to 500 μg, the antigen accumulated in the skin to a greater extent, as evidenced by the increasing green fluorescence intensity. When the hollow microneedle was used for the delivery of ovalbumin into the skin of mice, it was capable of inducing a stronger immunoglobulin G immune response than conventional subcutaneous injection at the same antigen dose. Immunoglobulin G levels in the hollow MN group were 5.7, 11.6, and 13.3 times higher than those of the subcutaneous injection group for low, medium, and high doses, respectively. Furthermore, the mice immunized using the hollow microneedle showed no signs of skin infection or pinpoint bleeding. The results suggest that the hollow MN is an efficient device for delivering the optimal dose of antigen via the skin for successful immunization.     

Hollow Microneedle Arrays for Intradermal Drug Delivery and DNA Electroporation

The association of microneedles with electric pulses causing electroporation could result in an efficient and less painful delivery of drugs and DNA into the skin. Hollow conductive microneedles were used for (1) needle-free intradermal injection and (2) electric pulse application in order to achieve electric field in the superficial layers of the skin sufficient for electroporation. Microneedle array was used in combination with a vibratory inserter to disrupt the stratum corneum, thus piercing the skin. Effective injection of proteins into the skin was achieved, resulting in an immune response directed to the model antigen ovalbumin. However, when used both as microneedles to inject and as electrodes to apply the electric pulses, the setup showed several limitations for DNA electrotransfer. This could be due to the distribution of the electric field in the skin as shown by numerical calculations and/or the low dose of DNA injected. Further investigation of these parameters is needed in order to optimize minimally invasive DNA electrotransfer in the skin.     

皮肤模型与微针穿刺性能评价的研究

微针阵列作为新型透皮给药技术,受到广泛关注。通常以刺入力、刺入率和刺入深度来评价微针刺入皮肤的程度和效率。皮肤是其性能评价的基础。皮肤的物理特性主要由角蛋白丝、胶原纤维、弹性纤维和皮下组织综合决定,并且从厚度、弹性、硬度和韧性等维度反映其对微针刺入的影响。机械的、渗透的、组织的和屏障的等皮肤模型被用于解读和模拟真实皮肤的该方面功能。同样,通过皮肤力学分析后建立的包括本构模型在内的各种皮肤力学模型也从物理维度解析皮肤的力学特征。真实皮肤具有复杂性,存在差异性大、不易获取和储存,以及伦理等问题,而皮肤模型可在一定程度上代替真实皮肤辅助微针递送系统设计、开发和性能评价。本文系统回顾分析了皮肤组织的物理特性、各种皮肤模型的制备及特点、真实皮肤和模拟皮肤在评价微针穿刺性能方面的应用,为开发及建立合适的皮肤模型提供借鉴。     

Effect of adjuvants on responses to skin immunization by microneedles coated with influenza subunit vaccine

Recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of vaccine delivery to the skin by vaccine-coated microneedles; however there is little information on the effects of adjuvants using this approach for vaccination. Here we investigate the use of TLR ligands as adjuvants with skin-based delivery of influenza subunit vaccine. BALB/c mice received 1 μg of monovalent H1N1 subunit vaccine alone or with 1 μg of imiquimod or poly(I:C) individually or in combination via coated microneedle patches inserted into the skin. Poly(I:C) adjuvanted subunit influenza vaccine induced similar antigen-specific immune responses compared to vaccine alone when delivered to the skin by microneedles. However, imiquimod-adjuvanted vaccine elicited higher levels of serum IgG2a antibodies and increased hemagglutination inhibition titers compared to vaccine alone, suggesting enhanced induction of functional antibodies. In addition, imiquimod-adjuvanted vaccine induced a robust IFN-γ cellular response. These responses correlated with improved protection compared to influenza subunit vaccine alone, as well as reduced viral replication and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the lungs. The finding that microneedle delivery of imiquimod with influenza subunit vaccine induces improved immune responses compared to vaccine alone supports the use of TLR7 ligands as adjuvants for skin-based influenza vaccines.     

Numerical simulation of microneedles' insertion into skin

Microneedles have recently received much attention as a novel way for transdermal drug delivery. In this paper, a numerical simulation of the insertion process of the microneedle into human skin is reported using the finite element method. A multilayer skin model consisting of the stratum corneum, dermis and underlying hypodermis has been developed. The effective stress failure criterion has been coupled with the element deletion technique to predict the complete insertion process. The numerical results show a good agreement with the reported experimental data for the deformation and failure of the skin and the insertion force. The influences of the mechanical properties of the skin and the microneedle geometry (e.g. tip area, wall angle and wall thickness) on the insertion force are discussed. The numerical results are helpful for the optimum design of the microneedles for the transdermal drug delivery system.     

Vaccination with Human Papillomavirus Pseudovirus-Encapsidated Plasmids Targeted to Skin Using Microneedles

Human papilloma virus-like particles (HPV VLP) serve as the basis of the current licensed vaccines for HPV. We have previously shown that encapsidation of DNA expressing the model antigen M/M2 from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in HPV pseudovirions (PsV) is immunogenic when delivered intravaginally. Because the HPV capsids confer tropism for basal epithelium, they represent attractive carriers for vaccination targeted to the skin using microneedles. In this study we asked: 1) whether HPV16 VLP administered by microneedles could induce protective immune responses to HPV16 and 2) whether HPV16 PsV-encapsidated plasmids delivered by microneedles could elicit immune responses to both HPV and the antigen delivered by the transgene. Mice immunized with HPV16 VLP coated microneedles generated robust neutralizing antibody responses and were protected from HPV16 challenge. Microneedle arrays coated with HPV16-M/M2 or HPV16-F protein (genes of RSV) were then tested and dose-dependent HPV and F-specific antibody responses were detected post-immunization, and M/M2-specific T-cell responses were detected post RSV challenge, respectively. HPV16 PsV-F immunized mice were fully protected from challenge with HPV16 PsV and had reduced RSV viral load in lung and nose upon intranasal RSV challenge. In summary, HPV16 PsV-encapsidated DNA delivered by microneedles induced neutralizing antibody responses against HPV and primed for antibody and T-cell responses to RSV antigens encoded by the encapsidated plasmids. Although the immunogenicity of the DNA component was just above the dose response threshold, the HPV-specific immunity was robust. Taken together, these data suggest microneedle delivery of lyophilized HPV PsV could provide a practical, thermostable combined vaccine approach that could be developed for clinical evaluation.     

Numerical simulation of microneedles' insertion into skin

Microneedles have recently received much attention as a novel way for transdermal drug delivery. In this paper, a numerical simulation of the insertion process of the microneedle into human skin is reported using the finite element method. A multilayer skin model consisting of the stratum corneum, dermis and underlying hypodermis has been developed. The effective stress failure criterion has been coupled with the element deletion technique to predict the complete insertion process. The numerical results show a good agreement with the reported experimental data for the deformation and failure of the skin and the insertion force. The influences of the mechanical properties of the skin and the microneedle geometry (e.g. tip area, wall angle and wall thickness) on the insertion force are discussed. The numerical results are helpful for the optimum design of the microneedles for the transdermal drug delivery system.     

Microneedle array design determines the induction of protective memory CD8+ T cell responses induced by a recombinant live malaria vaccine in mice

Background

Vaccine delivery into the skin has received renewed interest due to ease of access to the immune system and microvasculature, however the stratum corneum (SC), must be breached for successful vaccination. This has been achieved by removing the SC by abrasion or scarification or by delivering the vaccine intradermally (ID) with traditional needle-and-syringes or with long microneedle devices. Microneedle patch-based transdermal vaccine studies have predominantly focused on antibody induction by inactivated or subunit vaccines. Here, our principal aim is to determine if the design of a microneedle patch affects the CD8⁺ T cell responses to a malaria antigen induced by a live vaccine.

Methodology and Findings

Recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) expressing a malaria antigen was percutaneously administered to mice using a range of silicon microneedle patches, termed ImmuPatch, that differed in microneedle height, density, patch area and total pore volume. We demonstrate that microneedle arrays that have small total pore volumes induce a significantly greater proportion of central memory T cells that vigorously expand to secondary immunization. Microneedle-mediated vaccine priming induced significantly greater T cell immunity post-boost and equivalent protection against malaria challenge compared to ID vaccination. Notably, unlike ID administration, ImmuPatch-mediated vaccination did not induce inflammatory responses at the site of immunization or in draining lymph nodes.

Conclusions/Significance

This study demonstrates that the design of microneedle patches significantly influences the magnitude and memory of vaccine-induced CD8⁺ T cell responses and can be optimised for the induction of desired immune responses. Furthermore, ImmuPatch-mediated delivery may be of benefit to reducing unwanted vaccine reactogenicity. In addition to the advantages of low cost and lack of pain, the development of optimised microneedle array designs for the induction of T cell responses by live vaccines aids the development of solutions to current obstacles of immunization programmes.     

Fabrication,Physicochemical Characterization,and Performance Evaluation of Biodegradable Polymeric Microneedle Patch System for Enhanced Transcutaneous Flux of High Molecular Weight Therapeutics

A revolutionary paradigm shift is being observed currently, towards the use of therapeutic biologics for disease management. The present research was focused on designing an efficient dosage form for transdermal delivery of α-choriogonadotropin (high molecular weight biologic), through biodegradable polymeric microneedles. Polyvinylpyrrolidone-based biodegradable microneedle arrays loaded with high molecular weight polypeptide, α-choriogonadotropin, were fabricated for its systemic delivery via transdermal route. Varied process and formulation parameters were optimized for fabricating microneedle array, which in turn was expected to temporally rupture the stratum corneum layer of the skin, acting as a major barrier to drug delivery through transdermal route. The developed polymeric microneedles were optimized on the basis of quality attributes like mechanical strength, axial strength, insertion ratio, and insertion force analysis. The optimized polymeric microneedle arrays were characterized for in vitro drug release studies, ex vivo drug permeation studies, skin resealing studies, and in vivo pharmacokinetic studies. Results depicted that fabricated polymeric microneedle arrays with mechanical strength of above 5 N and good insertion ratio exhibited similar systemic bioavailability of α-choriogonadotropin in comparison to marketed subcutaneous injection formulation of α-choriogonadotropin. Thus, it was ultimately concluded that the designed drug delivery system can serve as an efficient tool for systemic delivery of therapeutic biologics, with an added benefit of overcoming the limitations of parenteral delivery, achieving better patient acceptability and compliance.     

基于微针的经皮免疫的应用现状及研究进展北大核心CSCD

微针经皮免疫借助微针刺破皮肤的角质层,使疫苗高效地被抗原提呈细胞识别后引起特异性免疫应答,从而实现疫苗的经皮免疫。由于微针的经皮免疫所具有的高效诱导免疫应答、低痛感、易储存等优点,近年来被广泛应用于多种疫苗免疫接种。本综述对用于经皮免疫的各类微针(固体微针、空心微针、涂层微针和可溶性微针)的制备材料、在经皮免疫的应用、领域的研究热点与尚需要解决的问题进行探讨,以期为研究者的制备和应用提供参考和借鉴。     

Insertion of microneedles into skin: measurement and prediction of insertion force and needle fracture force

As a hybrid between a hypodermic needle and transdermal patch, we have used microfabrication technology to make arrays of micron-scale needles that transport drugs and other compounds across the skin without causing pain. However, not all microneedle geometries are able to insert into skin at reasonable forces and without breaking. In this study, we experimentally measured and theoretically modeled two critical mechanical events associated with microneedles: the force required to insert microneedles into living skin and the force needles can withstand before fracturing. Over the range of microneedle geometries investigated, insertion force was found to vary linearly with the interfacial area of the needle tip. Measured insertion forces ranged from approximately 0.1-3N, which is sufficiently low to permit insertion by hand. The force required to fracture microneedles was found to increase with increasing wall thickness, wall angle, and possibly tip radius, in agreement with finite element simulations and a thin shell analytical model. For almost all geometries considered, the margin of safety, or the ratio of fracture force to insertion force, was much greater than one and was found to increase with increasing wall thickness and decreasing tip radius. Together, these results provide the ability to predict insertion and fracture forces, which facilitates rational design of microneedles with robust mechanical properties.     

基于壳聚糖的搭载光源可溶性微针的制备与评价

光动力疗法与给药微针(microneedle, MN)相结合为治疗肿瘤提供了一种安全有效的途径。本文设计了一种基于壳聚糖搭载高能光子的可控缓释型载药微针贴片(LED-losartan-HEMA/ CS-MN, LLH-CSMN),重点研究了其制备工艺,并且以氯沙坦为模型药物对微针阵列的形貌尺寸进行了表征,探究了LLH-CSMN的力学性能、皮肤穿刺性能、缓释性能以及高能光子在长时间工作下的光热性能。结果表明,基于壳聚糖搭载高能光子的微针贴片能够有效地在皮肤表面打开通道进行药物递送,并进行光动力治疗。同时,体外透皮扩散试验表明,以氯沙坦为模型药物制备的微针在1 h内释放了约30%的药物,在1 d内总共释放了约60%的药物,随后进行缓慢释放,在6 d后最终释放了93%的药物,LLH-CSMN具有可控缓释特性以及良好的长效光辅助治疗效果,为肿瘤治疗提供了一个新的安全有效途径。     

微针技术用于非经皮途径的药物递送研究进展

近年来,微针作为一种新兴的经皮给药技术,具有微创、无痛、使用方便和高效的特点,逐渐成为一种极具研究价值和应用潜力的给药策略。微针技术在过去20年中得到迅速发展并呈现出多样化的趋势,已可根据不同需求来定制微针的形状、组成、机械性能和其他特殊功能等。由于微针能以微创方式穿越各种生物屏障,因此许多研究人员探索了微针在除皮肤外各类组织和器官中的药物递送应用。本文综述了微针技术及其近年来在眼睛、血管、心脏等组织和器官的药物递送中的应用研究,以期推动微针技术的应用发展。     

Stabilization of Influenza Vaccine Enhances Protection by Microneedle Delivery in the Mouse Skin

Background

Simple and effective vaccine administration is particularly important for annually recommended influenza vaccination. We hypothesized that vaccine delivery to the skin using a patch containing vaccine-coated microneedles could be an attractive approach to improve influenza vaccination compliance and efficacy.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Solid microneedle arrays coated with inactivated influenza vaccine were prepared for simple vaccine delivery to the skin. However, the stability of the influenza vaccine, as measured by hemagglutination activity, was found to be significantly damaged during microneedle coating. The addition of trehalose to the microneedle coating formulation retained hemagglutination activity, indicating stabilization of the coated influenza vaccine. For both intramuscular and microneedle skin immunization, delivery of un-stabilized vaccine yielded weaker protective immune responses including viral neutralizing antibodies, protective efficacies, and recall immune responses to influenza virus. Immunization using un-stabilized vaccine also shifted the pattern of antibody isotypes compared to the stabilized vaccine. Importantly, a single microneedle-based vaccination using stabilized influenza vaccine was found to be superior to intramuscular immunization in controlling virus replication as well as in inducing rapid recall immune responses post challenge.

Conclusions/Significance

The functional integrity of hemagglutinin is associated with inducing improved protective immunity against influenza. Simple microneedle influenza vaccination in the skin produced superior protection compared to conventional intramuscular immunization. This approach is likely to be applicable to other vaccines too.     

The Troy Microneedle: A Rapidly Separating,Dissolving Microneedle Formed by Cyclic Contact and Drying on the Pillar (CCDP)

In dissolving microneedle (DMN)-mediated therapy, complete and rapid delivery of DMNs is critical for the desired efficacy. Traditional patch-based DMN delivery, however, may fail due to incomplete delivery from insufficient skin insertion or rapid separation of microneedles due to their strong bond to the backing film. Here, we introduce the Troy microneedle, which was created by cyclic contact and drying on the pillar (CCDP), and which enabled simultaneous complete and rapid delivery of DMN. This CCDP process could be flexibly repeated to achieve a specific desired drug dose in a DMN. We evaluated DMN separation using agarose gel, and the Troy microneedle achieved more complete and rapid separation than other, more deeply dipped DMN, primarily because of the Troy’s minimal junction between the DMN and pillar. When Troy microneedles were applied to pig cadaver skin, it took only 15 s for over 90% of encapsulated rhodamine B to be delivered, compared to 2 h with application of a traditional DMN patch. In vivo skin penetration studies demonstrated rapid DMN-separation of Troy microneedles still in solid form before dissolution. The Troy microneedle overcomes critical issues associated with the low penetration efficiency of flat patch-based DMN and provides an innovative route for DMN-mediated therapy, combining patient convenience with the desire drug efficacy.     

Fabrication of degradable carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) microneedle with laser writing and replica molding process for enhancement of transdermal drug delivery

Transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS) may provide a more reliable method of drug delivery than oral delivery by avoiding gut absorption and first-pass metabolism, but needs a method for efficiently crossing the epidermal barrier. To enhance the delivery through the skin, we have developed a biocompatible, dissolvable microneedle array made from carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Using laser ablation for creating the mold greatly improved the efficiency and reduced the cost of microneedle fabrication. Mixing CMC with amylopectin (AP) enhanced the mechanical and tunable dissolution properties of the microneedle for controlled release of model compounds. Using the CMC microneedle array, we observed significant enhancement in the skin permeability of a fluorescent model compound, and also increase in the anti-oxidant activity of ascorbic acid after crossing the skin. Our dissolvable microneedle array provides a new and biocompatible method for delivery of drugs and cosmetic compounds through the skin.     

聚四氟乙烯微针模具的性能考察

目的:考察用聚四氟乙烯(PTFE)制作相转化水凝胶微针模具的性能。方法:聚四氟乙烯模具经过粉末的过筛、压制、烧结、制孔而得。实验制备了不同聚四氟乙烯粉料粒度、不聚四氟乙烯粉料用料量、不同生料板压制压力的聚四氟乙烯微针模具,向模具中浇注以PVA为基质的聚合物溶液,通过冷冻解冻制得相转化水凝胶微针,考察模具的孔径、载料量以及微针的揭膜难易程度和完形率。结果:80目以上细度的模具透光性能均一;随着聚四氟乙烯用料量的增加和生料板压制压力的增大,模具的孔径和载药量减小,揭膜更容易、完形率更高。结论:聚四氟乙烯模具的性能与其密度密切相关,密度越大的模具,蠕变的随意性越大,因而孔洞均一性下降,但是揭膜性能变好,完形率提高。这两个相反的趋势提示我们,四氟乙烯模具的优劣是相转化水凝胶微针中的第一个控制性因素,聚四氟乙烯是制作微针模具的可接受材料,有进一步研究的价值。     

Ex vivo activated OVA specific and non-specific CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells exhibit comparable suppression to OVA mediated T cell responses

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tr) are important in maintaining immune tolerance to self-antigen (Ag) and preventing autoimmunity. Reduced number and inadequate function of Tr are observed in chronic autoimmune diseases. Adoptively transferred Tr effectively suppress ongoing autoimmune disease in multiple animal models. Therefore, strategies to modulate Tr have become an attractive approach to control autoimmunity. Activation of Tr is necessary for their optimal immune regulatory function. However, due to the low ratio of Tr to any given antigen (Ag) and the unknown nature of Ag in many autoimmune diseases, specific activation is not practical for potential therapeutic intervention. It has been shown in animal models that once activated, Tr can exhibit immune suppression in a bystander Ag-non-specific fashion, suggesting the effector phase of Tr is Ag independent. To investigate whether the immune suppression by activated bystander Tr is as potent as that of the Ag specific Tr, Tr cells were isolated from BALB/c or ovalbumin (OVA) specific T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice (DO11.10) and their immune suppression of an OVA specific T cell response was compared. We found that once activated ex vivo, Tr from BALB/c and DO11.10 mice exhibited comparable inhibition on OVA specific T cell responses as determined by T cell proliferation and cytokine production. Furthermore, their immune suppression function was compared in a delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) model induced by OVA specific T cells. Again, OVA specific and non-specific Tr exhibited similar inhibition of the DTH response. Taken together, the results indicate that ex vivo activated Ag-non-specific Tr are as efficient as Ag specific Tr in immune suppression, therefore our study provides additional evidence suggesting the possibility of applying ex vivo activated Tr therapy for the control of autoimmunity.