01 July, 2017
The new patch, developed by researchers at Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology, United States, has a hundred tiny hair-like micro-needles on its adhesive side that penetrate the skin's surface. Only the uppermost layers of the skin are punctured, whilst regular flu vaccination injections penetrate all the way through into the muscle.
The study enrolled 100 adult participants and divided them into four random groups.
Because the microneedle patch delivers dry drugs, it doesn't need to be stored at cool temperature the way liquid medicines, like traditional flu vaccines, do.
Also, an analysis of blood samples showed antibody responses generated by the vaccine were consistent in groups who receive the shot by the patch as well as intramuscular injections, with immune responses still being present after six months.
More impressive was that the patch provided just as many antibodies as the jab, with 96 per cent of those using it noting it was pain-free technique while 70 per cent stated they preferred the approach over a needle.
An experimental study may yield a new alternative for receiving annual vaccinations against the influenza virus.
One group received vaccinations via the patch given by a health care provider, another group received the vaccination through self-administration, and the next two received an intramuscular injection by a health care provider or a placebo given by a healthcare provider. 'We could envisage vaccination at home, in the workplace or even via mail distribution, ' commented Emory University's Dr Nadine Rouphael. (Micron), a Phase 1 clinical trial showed that vaccination by microneedle patch was as safe and at least as immunogenic as vaccination with standard needle and syringe. Vaccines that don't require refrigeration could have a longer shelf-life in pharmacies, and people could pick them up and give them to themselves at home. The patch is also more environmentally friendly as it lessens the amount of unsafe waste that needs to be disposed of.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. With more people taking it, there is better ability to control infection at the population level'.
