ABOVE: COURTESY OF CARMINE D’AMICO
Over the past 18 months, the world has been amazed at how fast scientists can develop vaccine candidates against COVID-19. The majority of these vaccinations are administered via hypodermic injection, which allows the vaccine’s ingredients to be swiftly assimilated into the bloodstream. However, some require multiple doses, and most must be kept at controlled, often super-cold temperatures until they can be administered by trained personnel, creating major logistical challenges.
Several researchers, including ourselves, are working on a technology that aims to provide the advantages of injectable vaccines without the drawbacks—and without the traditional needle stick: microneedles. While the technology still has a long road to the clinic, having entered human trials less than 10 years ago, we believe this it is the future of vaccine delivery, and the ongoing pandemic has highlighted the need to accelerate its development.
Basically, an array of tiny needles measuring ...
