Biomedical Engineering ETDs
Publication Date
Spring 4-4-2024
Abstract
Since its introduction, vaccination has improved health outcomes tremendously. However, modern vaccination efforts are still difficult to implement, particularly in developing countries with warm climates. This includes complex and expensive cold-chain management of vaccines to maintain stability, a lack of medical personnel to administer parental vaccines, and needle phobia. As an alternative, dissolvable microneedles have recently been studied for their simple and painless application. In this thesis, I present a novel manufacturing process for polymer-based dissolvable microneedles, loaded with virus-like particles vaccines conjugated to TRIO or Sialokinin peptides to target malaria and arboviruses, respectively. We have performed multiple characterization studies to assess needle sharpness, integrity, and skin insertion force. We have also evaluated the thermostability properties of the microneedles containing vaccines after storing them at elevated temperature conditions for five months. Finally, the immunogenicity of these vaccines was evaluated in mice after transdermal (microneedle) and intramuscular (hypodermic needle) administration.
Language
English
Keywords
Microneedles, Vaccines, VLP, Polymer, Malaria, Arbovirus
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Biomedical Engineering
Level of Degree
Masters
Department Name
Biomedical Engineering
First Committee Member (Chair)
Pavan Muttil
Second Committee Member
Bryce Chackerian
Third Committee Member
Nathan Jackson
Recommended Citation
Leyba, Aidan Lane. "Formulation, Characterization, and in vivo Immunogenicity Evaluation of Heat-Stabilized Dissolvable Polymeric Microneedles." (2024). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/bme_etds/46
Included in
Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons, Medical Immunology Commons, Other Medicine and Health Sciences Commons, Virus Diseases Commons
