Understanding the Basis of Transcutaneous Vaccine Delivery

Abstract

Under many circumstances, prophylactic immunizations are considered as the only possible strategy to control infectious diseases. Considerable efforts are typically invested in immunogen selection but, erroneously, the route of administration is not usually a major concern despite the fact that it can strongly influence efficacy. The skin is now considered a key component of the lymphatic system with tremendous potential as a target for vaccination. The purpose of this review is to present the immunological basis of the skin-associated lymphoid tissue, so as to provide understanding of the skin vaccination strategies. Several strategies are currently being developed for the transcutaneous delivery of antigens. The classical, mechanical or chemical disruptions versus the newest approaches based on microneedles for antigen delivery through the skin are discussed herein.

Keywords:

• adjuvant
• skin-associated lymphoid tissue
• vaccine

Financial & competing interest disclosure

This work was financially supported by “Instituto de Salud Carlos III” and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), ref. PI16/00071. Yadira Pastor is grateful for the award of an ADA-University of Navarra fellowship. 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 materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank AF Flores and ME Iglesias Zamora for the skin cross section photograph (Figure 1).