Microneedle systems for delivering nucleic acid drugs

Abstract

Background Nucleic acid-based gene therapy is a promising technology that has been used in various applications such as novel vaccination platforms for infectious/cancer diseases and cellular reprogramming because of its fast, specific, and effective properties. Despite its potential, the parenteral nucleic acid drug formulation exhibits instability and low efficacy due to various barriers, such as stability concerns related to its liquid state formulation, skin barriers, and endogenous nuclease degradation. As promising alternatives, many attempts have been made to perform nucleic acid delivery using a microneedle system. With its minimal invasiveness, microneedle can deliver nucleic acid drugs with enhanced efficacy and improved stability. Area covered This review describes nucleic acid medicines' current state and features and their delivery systems utilizing non-viral vectors and physical delivery systems. In addition, different types of microneedle delivery systems and their properties are briefly reviewed. Furthermore, recent advances of microneedle-based nucleic acid drugs, including featured vaccination applications, are described. Expert opinion Nucleic acid drugs have shown significant potential beyond the limitation of conventional small molecules, and the current COVID-19 pandemic highlights the importance of nucleic acid therapies as a novel vaccination platform. Microneedle-mediated nucleic acid drug delivery is a potential platform for less invasive nucleic acid drug delivery. Microneedle system can show enhanced efficacy, stability, and improved patient convenience through self-administration with less pain.

Status and developmental trends in recombinant collagen preparation technology

“…Compared to the traditional transfection methods such as liposome transfection and electro-transfection, the microneedle arrays are universal for a variety of gene carriers [ 92 ] and exhibit superiority in transfection efficiency and cell survival rate, especially for immune cells and animal cells [ 91 ]. With the development of micro–nano manufacturing and microfluidic technology, the introduction of fine and orderly micro–nano structures can achieve higher precision cell manipulation in micro-continuous flow.…”

Nanomaterials in tuberculosis DNA vaccine delivery: historical perspective and current landscape

“…Novel nanomaterial-based mucosal administration enables barrier crossing via perioral, intranasal, and intratracheal routes, inducing local or systemic immunity at the mucosal site (Jin et al., 2019 ). Additionally, the use of novel nanomaterials, electroporation (Covello et al., 2014 ), micro-needling (Noh et al., 2022 ), and needle-free delivery systems (Mooij et al., 2019 ), such as gene guns or biological syringes which enhance skin-based delivery ( Table 1 ), significantly enhance the transfection efficiency.…”

Potential of Microneedle Systems for COVID-19 Vaccination: Current Trends and Challenges

“…Vaccination through MNs: MNs have become popular therapeutic devices [ 36 ] for vaccine delivery due to their distinctively unique advantages [ 14 ], which can play a paramount part in alleviating the fear of needles in people. MNs are tiny, micron-sized needles that deliver the drug molecule by creating microchannels through the stratum corneum [ 46 , 364 ] without stimulating pain nerves [ 360 , 394 ]. They can penetrate the skin without pain and vasovagal reactions, making them a suitable transdermal delivery system for needle-phobic people [ 31 , 47 , 395 ].…”