Intradermal delivery of receptor‐binding domain of SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein with dissolvable microneedles to induce humoral and cellular responses in mice

Abstract

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Induction of Humoral and Cellular Immunity by Intradermal Delivery of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein Using Dissolvable Microneedles

“…Previously, Kim et al delivered recombinant coronavirus vaccines (SARS-CoV-2-S1 and SARS-CoV-2-S1fRS09 subunit) using carboxymethyl cellulose-based MN delivery platforms [ 17 ]. Moreover, our team previously explored the use of HA-based MN delivery platform to deliver S-RBD (SARS-CoV-2-S1) in mice and obtained similar results [ 18 ]. In this work, we investigated the use of HA-based MN delivery platform to deliver NP in mice.…”

“…The rationale behind MN delivery of antigen vaccines into the skin is to activate the adaptive immune response via antigen-presenting dendritic cells, Langerhans cells, and other cells that could prime antigen-specific immunity [ 16 ]. There has also been examples of MN devices that could effectively deliver SARS-CoV-2 spike subunit vaccines to the mice skin, such as Kim's and Kuwentrai's work [ 17 , 18 ]. Encouraged by these research findings, our current study investigates the potential use of dissolvable MNs for the intradermal delivery of NP as an alternative vaccine for COVID-19.…”

Dissolvable Microneedle Patches to Enable Increased Access to Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and Future Pandemic Outbreaks

“…For MERS-CoV-S1, which started prior to the SARS-CoV-2 portion of the study, antibody levels continued to increase over time in mice vaccinated by microneedle patch—up to when the experiment ended at 55 weeks [ 68 ]. In another study, Kuwentrai et al successfully designed and used dissolving microneedle patches based on a mixture of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) spike proteins and low-molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HA) together with an aluminum hydroxide gel adjuvant using a micro-molding method [ 34 ]. The team found specific B-cell antibodies and IFN-γ T-cell responses for up to 97 days after administration, though with high variation of antibody titers compared to subcutaneous injection [ 34 ].…”

“…In another study, Kuwentrai et al successfully designed and used dissolving microneedle patches based on a mixture of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) spike proteins and low-molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HA) together with an aluminum hydroxide gel adjuvant using a micro-molding method [ 34 ]. The team found specific B-cell antibodies and IFN-γ T-cell responses for up to 97 days after administration, though with high variation of antibody titers compared to subcutaneous injection [ 34 ]. The potential advantages of dissolvable microneedle patches for COVID-19 can be found in Table 2 .…”

Mucosal and transdermal vaccine delivery strategies against COVID-19

“…The study provides a ray of hope for investigating the microneedle-based COVID-19 vaccine. In another study, Kuwentrai et al [ 27 ] designed microneedle patches using low molecular weight hyaluronic acid that could deliver the RBD domain peptide of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. A study in the mouse model demonstrated the significant generation of antibody and T-cell response.…”