Enhancement of transdermal vaccination using electrothermal active interfaces

Abstract

In recent years, transdermal protein delivery has emerged as a promising approach for immunization purposes. This study presents a novel system for transdermal delivery of diphtheria-tetanus vaccine using an electrothermal-activated interface. The technology involves applying layers of a solution containing the vaccine and a polymer on top of Kapton heaters, which are remotely connected to a computer that measures the temperature of the skin and adjusts the heat output accordingly to avoid hyperthermia. In vivo experiments were conducted on mice to compare the immune responses induced by electrothermal delivery with intraperitoneal injection and with passive transfer through micro-needling. Our results demonstrate that the antibody produced by the electrothermal method is more efficient than transdermal immunization by micro-needling. The level of immune response shows a dose dependence on immunogen and heating time. Despite the higher efficiency of intraperitoneal injection, electrothermal delivery offers remarkable benefits such as long-lasting immunogen matrix and low-cost immunogen administration. Although our study provides important insights into the potential of the electrothermal transdermal vaccination as a safe and effective alternative to traditional needle-based immunization methods, further research is needed to evaluate the level of immunization induced by this method against the actual induction of the disease and to optimize the efficiency of antibody production.