Multimedia Gallery
Stainless Steel Microneedles (Image 3)
Stainless Steel Microneedles (Image 3)
An array of microneedles in a patch could be used to administer the flu vaccine through the skin. Image shows a prototype patch of stainless steel needles.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University are studying the use of microneedle arrays as an alternative to traditional hypodermic needles for delivering flu vaccine. The tiny needles are too small to significantly stimulate nerve endings in the skin, so they can be applied without causing pain. Researchers envision that microneedle patches, coated with a powdered form of the vaccine, could be mailed to persons who need the immunization, thus eliminating the need to visit a medical facility. The microneedle arrays can also be used to deliver other drugs and vaccines. Development of the microneedle flu vaccine is funded with two grants from the National Institutes of Health, totaling more than $11.5 million. To learn more about this research, see the George Tech Research News story, "Microneedles: Flu Vaccine in Painless Skin Patches under Development at Emory and Georgia Tech with $11.5 Million in NIH Grants.". (Date of Image: September 2007) [Image 3 of 3 related images. Back to Image 1.]
Credit: Harvinder Gill
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