Public health officials are looking for innovative solutions to vaccine delivery in the face of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing supply chain shortages. Recently highlighted in a new article, a group of scientists and engineers are working together to develop a novel intradermal delivery device.

Tiba’s collaboration with the University of Pittsburg and Carnegie Mellon University is centered on a new 3-D printed micro array patch for mRNA vaccine delivery.  Microneedle arrays comprise hundreds of tiny needles on a miniature patch that, when applied to the skin, quickly dissolve and deliver the mRNA nanoparticles. In addition to overcoming the general aversion to traditional needles, these devices do not require the same level of cold-chain storage and can allow for 1/100th of the dose of a traditional vaccine to be delivered.

For the underlying article see A Shot in the Arm with 3D Printed Microneedle Patch.