Microarray patches: scratching the surface of vaccine delivery

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Microneedles are emerging as a promising technology for vaccine delivery, with numerous advantages over traditional needle and syringe methods. Preclinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of MAPs in inducing robust immune responses over traditional needle and syringe methods, with extensive studies using vaccines targeted against different pathogens in various animal models. Critically, the clinical trials have demonstrated safety, immunogenicity, and patient acceptance for MAP-based vaccines against influenza, measles, rubella, and SARS-CoV-2.

Areas covered

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the different types of microarray patches (MAPs) and analyses of their applications in preclinical and clinical vaccine delivery settings. This review also covers additional considerations for microneedle-based vaccination, including adjuvants that are compatible with MAPs, patient safety and factors for global vaccination campaigns.

Expert opinion

MAP vaccine delivery can potentially be a game-changer for vaccine distribution and coverage in both high-income and low- and middle-income countries. For MAPs to reach this full potential, many critical hurdles must be overcome, such as large-scale production, regulatory compliance, and adoption by global health authorities. However, given the considerable strides made in recent years by MAP developers, it may be possible to see the first MAP-based vaccines in use within the next 5 years.

KEYWORDS:

• Microneedles
• microarray patch
• skin vaccination
• vaccine delivery
• adjuvants

Article highlights

• Comprehensive overview of the five different types of MAPs: solid, coated, dissolving, hollow and hydrogel-forming microneedles

• Summary of pre-clinical conducted using the five different types of MAPs for vaccine delivery

• Summary of clinical trials (completed or in-progress) for MAP-based vaccine delivery

• Additional considerations that are required for MAP-based vaccine delivery

Decflaration of Interest

DA Muller and PR Young are consultants of the HD-MAP development company Vaxxas Pty Ltd. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or material discussed in the manuscript apart rom those disclosed.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Author contributions

All authors have contributed to the conceptualization and design of the review. All authors were also involved in the writing and review of the presented manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Health and Medical Research Development grants from the Australian Government, APP1139754 and APP1178896.