Microneedles enable the development of skin-targeted vaccines against coronaviruses and influenza viruses

Abstract

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many have seriously worried that the plus burden of seasonal influenza that might create a destructive scenario, resulting in overwhelmed healthcare capacities and onwards loss of life. Many efforts to develop a safe and efficacious vaccine to prevent infection by coronavirus and influenza, highlight the importance of vaccination to combat infectious pathogens. While vaccines are traditionally given as injections into the muscle, microneedle (MN) patches designed to precisely deliver cargos into the cutaneous microenvironment, rich in immune cells, provide a noninvasive and self-applicable vaccination approach, reducing overall costs and improving access to vaccines in places with limited supply. The current review aimed to highlight advances in research on the development of MNs-mediated cutaneous vaccine delivery. Concluding remarks and challenges on MNs-based skin immunization are also provided to contribute to the rational development of safe and effective MN-delivered vaccines against these emerging infectious diseases.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Coronaviruses
• influenza
• skin
• microneedle
• vaccine

Author contributions

All authors have participated in searching references and writing the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.