Research project
Non-invasive vaccination via the skin surface by means of microneedles and microjets
Vaccination is a highly effective method to prevent illness. For example, the poliovirus has almost been eradicated worldwide thanks to vaccine administration.
Millions of vaccines are being administered yearly worldwide. However, conventional needles provoke pain and distress. To circumvent these problems, microneedles can be used to vaccinate via the skin. These microneedles are nearly invisible to the eye and can be used to vaccinate painlessly. Moreover, recent research has shown that the skin is a very potent target to provoke immune responses that prevent (vaccination) or treat illnesses (e.g. against auto-immune disease or cancer vaccines).
My project focuses on successful vaccination via the skin using microneedles. Two main hurdles need to be overcome to reach the goal of microneedle vaccination. The first being antigen (the compound vaccinated against) delivery into the skin via microneedles. The second hurdle is to provoke an appropriate immune response, leading to successful vaccination. My project thus focuses on these two main hurdles, using advanced delivery techniques and a skin model, which monitors immune responses in the skin.