Microneedle vaccines mimic several aspects of cutaneous pathogen invasion by targeting antigen to skin-resident dendritic cells and triggering local infl ammatory responses in the skin, which are correlated with enhanced immune responses. Here, we tested whether control over vaccine delivery kinetics can enhance immunity through further mimicry of kinetic profi les present during natural acute infections. An approach for the fabrication of silk/poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) composite microneedles composed of a silk tip supported on a PAA base is reported. On brief application of microneedle patches to skin, the PAA bases rapidly dissolved to deliver a protein subunit vaccine bolus, while also implanting persistent silk hydrogel depots into the skin for a low-level sustained cutaneous vaccine release over 1‐2 weeks. Use of this platform to deliver a model whole-protein vaccine with optimized release kinetics resulted in > 10-fold increases in antigen-specifi c T-cell and humoral immune responses relative to traditional parenteral needle-based immunization. compared with traditional parenteral immunization approaches targeting less immunogenic tissues such as muscle (reviewed elsewhere). [ 1 ] Microneedle vaccination has in many cases also outperformed hypodermic needle-based delivery to the skin, suggesting the importance of factors relating to microneedle delivery itself, such as the infl ammatory state generated by micrometer-scale wounding following microneedle insertion. [ 2 , 3 ] Unrelated studies have begun to reveal the importance of antigen and adjuvant delivery kinetics in the developing immune response, both within the context of vaccination and in natural responses to infection. [ 4‐7 ] For example, the magnitude, functionality, and phenotype of CD8 + T-cell responses can be shaped by immunizations where antigen or adjuvant delivery kinetics are controlled over multi-week periods, with persistent antigenic and infl ammatory signals eliciting stronger responses than transient bolus vaccine exposure. [ 4 , 5 ] These fi ndings are consistent with known differences in the natural immunity generated against transient versus persistent pathogens, indicating specifi c mechanisms of immunity that may be exploited through engineered kinetics to yield greater vaccine effi cacy. We have recently begun to explore the combination of these two approaches for enhancing immunogenicity, through the

Implantable Silk Composite Microneedles for Programmable Vaccine Release Kinetics and Enhanced Immunogenicity in Transcutaneous Immunization

Advancements in biotechnology and protein engineering expand the availability of various therapeutic proteins including vaccines, antibodies, hormones, and growth factors. In addition, protein drugs hold many therapeutic advantages over small synthetic drugs in terms of high specificity and activity. This has led to further R&D investment in protein-based drug products and an increased number of drug approvals for therapeutic proteins. However, there are many biological and biopharmaceutical obstacles inherent to protein drugs including physicochemical and enzymatic destabilization, which limit their development and clinical application. Therefore, effective formulations of therapeutic proteins are needed to overcome the various physicochemical and biological barriers. In current medical practice, protein drugs are predominantly available in injectable formulations, which have disadvantages including pain, the possibility of infection, high cost, and low patient compliance. Consequently, non-invasive drug delivery systems for therapeutic proteins have gained great attention in the research and development of biomedicines. Therefore, this review covers the various formulation approaches to optimizing the delivery properties of protein drugs with an emphasis on improving bioavailability and patient compliance. It provides a comprehensive update on recent advancements in nanotechnologies with regard to non-invasive protein drug delivery systems, which is also categorized by the route of administrations including oral, nasal, transdermal, pulmonary, ocular, and rectal delivery systems.

Recent Advancements in Non-Invasive Formulations for Protein Drug Delivery

Recent advances in microneedle-based drug delivery: Special emphasis on its use in paediatric population

Hollow microneedles: A perspective in biomedical applications.

The success of protein, peptide and antibody based therapies is evident - the biopharmaceuticals market is predicted to reach $388 billion by 2024 [1], and more than half of the current top 20 blockbuster drugs are biopharmaceuticals. However, the intrinsic properties of biopharmaceuticals has restricted the routes available for successful drug delivery. While providing 100% bioavailability, the intravenous route is often associated with pain and needle phobia from a patient perspective, which may translate as a reluctance to receive necessary treatment. Several non-invasive strategies have since emerged to overcome these limitations. One such strategy involves the use of microneedles (MNs), which are able to painlessly penetrate the stratum corneum barrier to dramatically increase transdermal drug delivery of numerous drugs. This review reports the wealth of studies that aim to enhance transdermal delivery of biopharmaceutics using MNs. The true potential of MNs as a drug delivery device for biopharmaceuticals will not only rely on acceptance from prescribers, patients and the regulatory authorities, but the ability to upscale MN manufacture in a cost-effective manner and the long term safety of MN application. Thus, the current barriers to clinical translation of MNs, and how these barriers may be overcome are also discussed.

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Microneedle Mediated Transdermal Delivery of Protein, Peptide and Antibody Based Therapeutics: Current Status and Future Considerations

https://scholarlypublications.universiteitleiden.nl/access/item%3A2904845/view

Development of PLGA nanoparticle loaded dissolving microneedles and comparison with hollow microneedles in intradermal vaccine delivery.

This work gives a brief overview of carrier materials currently used in pharmaceutical studies on the three-dimensional (3D) semi-solid extrusion (SSE) printing of medicines for pediatrics. The suitability of using these carrier materials in pediatric formulations, concerning safety and toxicity, was reviewed by consulting the ‘Safety & Toxicity of Excipients for Pediatrics’ (STEP) database and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations. In the second part of this work, carrier materials were tested on their ability to form a semi-solid mixture with lactose by dual asymmetric centrifugation (DAC) and printing by SSE. With the combination of theoretical and experimental studies, this work will guide research toward grounded decision-making when it comes to carrier material selection for pharmaceutical pediatric 3D SSE printing formulations.

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Eveline E.M. van Kampen

Papers

Development of PLGA nanoparticle loaded dissolving microneedles and comparison with hollow microneedles in intradermal vaccine delivery.

The Quest for Child-Friendly Carrier Materials Used in the 3D Semi-Solid Extrusion Printing of Medicines