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Paris JL, Vora LK, José Torres M, Mayorga C, Donnelly RF. Microneedle array patches for allergen-specific immunotherapy. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103556. [PMID: 36931387 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
The incidence of allergies has been steadily increasing in recent years. Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) represents the only approach capable of inducing long-term immune tolerance toward allergens. However, the clinical success of AIT is limited by efficacy or safety concerns related to the administration route. Therapeutic delivery in the skin appears promising, given the presence of immune cells in the skin and the relatively low level of systemic distribution that occurs with this delivery method. However, the stratum corneum greatly limits this route. In this regard, the use of microneedles has been proposed to improve the delivery of therapeutics into the skin. In this review, we discuss recent developments in the use of microneedles for AIT, highlighting avenues for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan L Paris
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina-IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND, Málaga, Spain; School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, Belfast, UK
| | - Lalitkumar K Vora
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, Belfast, UK.
| | - María José Torres
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina-IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND, Málaga, Spain; Allergy Clinical Unit, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Cristobalina Mayorga
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina-IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND, Málaga, Spain; Allergy Clinical Unit, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Ryan F Donnelly
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, Belfast, UK.
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2
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Treating allergies via skin - Recent advances in cutaneous allergen immunotherapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 190:114458. [PMID: 35850371 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy has been practiced clinically for decades to treat airborne allergies. Recently, the cutaneous route, which exploits the immunocompetence of the skin has received attention, which is evident from attempts to use it to treat peanut allergy. Delivery of allergens into the skin is inherently impeded by the barrier imposed by stratum corneum, the top layer of the skin. While the stratum corneum barrier must be overcome for efficient allergen delivery, excessive disruption of this layer can predispose to development of allergic inflammation. Thus, the most desirable allergen delivery approach must provide a balance between the level of skin disruption and the amount of allergen delivered. Such an approach should aim to achieve high allergen delivery efficiency across various skin types independent of age and ethnicity, and optimize variables such as safety profile, allergen dosage, treatment frequency, application time and patient compliance. The ability to precisely quantify the amount of allergen being delivered into the skin is crucial since it can allow for allergen dose optimization and can promote consistency and reproducibility in treatment response. In this work we review prominent cutaneous delivery approaches, and offer a perspective on further improvisation in cutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy.
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Coffey JW, van der Burg NMD, Rananakomol T, Ng HI, Fernando GJP, Kendall MAF. An Ultrahigh‐Density Microneedle Array for Skin Vaccination: Inducing Epidermal Cell Death by Increasing Microneedle Density Enhances Total IgG and IgG1 Immune Responses. ADVANCED NANOBIOMED RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/anbr.202100151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob W. Coffey
- The Delivery of Drugs and Genes Group (D2G) Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology University of Queensland St. Lucia QLD 4072 Australia
- Department of Chemical Engineering David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge MA 02139 USA
- Division of Gastroenterology Brigham and Women's Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston MA 02115 USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunology University of Melbourne Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio‐Nano Science and Technology The University of Queensland St Lucia QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Nicole M. D. van der Burg
- The Delivery of Drugs and Genes Group (D2G) Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology University of Queensland St. Lucia QLD 4072 Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio‐Nano Science and Technology The University of Queensland St Lucia QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Thippayawan Rananakomol
- The Delivery of Drugs and Genes Group (D2G) Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology University of Queensland St. Lucia QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Hwee-Ing Ng
- The Delivery of Drugs and Genes Group (D2G) Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology University of Queensland St. Lucia QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Germain J. P. Fernando
- The Delivery of Drugs and Genes Group (D2G) Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology University of Queensland St. Lucia QLD 4072 Australia
- The University of Queensland School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
- Vaxxas Pty Translational Research Institute Woolloongabba QLD 4102 Australia
| | - Mark A. F. Kendall
- The Delivery of Drugs and Genes Group (D2G) Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology University of Queensland St. Lucia QLD 4072 Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio‐Nano Science and Technology The University of Queensland St Lucia QLD 4072 Australia
- The University of Queensland School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
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4
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Landers JJ, Janczak KW, Shakya AK, Zarnitsyn V, Patel SR, Baker JR, Gill HS, O'Konek JJ. Targeted allergen-specific immunotherapy within the skin improves allergen delivery to induce desensitization to peanut. Immunotherapy 2022; 14:539-552. [PMID: 35196877 PMCID: PMC9043875 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2021-0206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT) with peanut has been demonstrated to be safe but efficacy may be limited by allergen uptake through the skin barrier. To enhance allergen uptake into the skin, the authors used peanut-coated microneedles and compared them with EPIT in a peanut allergy mouse model. Methods: Sensitized mice were treated with peanut-coated microneedles or peanut-EPIT and then challenged with peanut to determine protection. Results: Treatment with peanut-coated microneedles was safe and showed enhanced desensitization to peanut compared with peanut-EPIT administered via a similar schedule. Protection was associated with reduced Th2 immune responses and mast cell accumulation in the intestine. Conclusion: Peanut-coated microneedles have the potential to present a safe method of improving allergen delivery for cutaneous immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey J Landers
- Mary H. Weiser Food Allergy Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Katarzyna W Janczak
- Mary H. Weiser Food Allergy Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | | | | | | | - James R Baker
- Mary H. Weiser Food Allergy Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Harvinder Singh Gill
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
| | - Jessica J O'Konek
- Mary H. Weiser Food Allergy Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Bilal M, Mehmood S, Raza A, Hayat U, Rasheed T, Iqbal HM. Microneedles in Smart Drug Delivery. Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle) 2021; 10:204-219. [PMID: 32320365 PMCID: PMC7906867 DOI: 10.1089/wound.2019.1122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Significance: In biomedical setup, at large, and drug delivery, in particular, transdermal patches, hypodermal needles, and/or dermatological creams with the topical appliance are among the most widely practiced routes for transdermal drug delivery. Owing to the stratum corneum layer of the skin, traditional drug delivery methods are inefficient, and the effect of the administered therapeutic cues is limited. Recent Advances: The current advancement at the microlevel and nanolevel has revolutionized the drug delivery sector. Particularly, various types of microneedles (MNs) are becoming popular for drug delivery applications because of safety, patient compliance, and smart action. Critical Issues: Herein, we reviewed state-of-the-art MNs as a smart and sophisticated drug delivery approach. Following a brief introduction, the drug delivery mechanism of MNs is discussed. Different types of MNs, that is, solid, hollow, coated, dissolving, and hydrogel forming, are discussed with suitable examples. The latter half of the work is focused on the applied perspective and clinical translation of MNs. Furthermore, a detailed overview of clinical applications and future perspectives is also included in this review. Future Directions: Regardless of ongoing technological and clinical advancement, the focus should be diverted to enhance the efficacy and strength of MNs. Besides, the possible immune response or interference should also be avoided for successful clinical translation of MNs as an efficient drug delivery system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Bilal
- Department for Management of Science and Technology Development, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Correspondence: Department for Management of Science and Technology Development, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
| | - Shahid Mehmood
- Key Laboratory of Protein and Peptide Pharmaceuticals, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ali Raza
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Uzma Hayat
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tahir Rasheed
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hafiz M.N. Iqbal
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey, Mexico
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Amani H, Shahbazi MA, D'Amico C, Fontana F, Abbaszadeh S, Santos HA. Microneedles for painless transdermal immunotherapeutic applications. J Control Release 2020; 330:185-217. [PMID: 33340568 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has recently garnered plenty of attention to improve the clinical outcomes in the treatment of various diseases. However, owing to the dynamic nature of the immune system, this approach has often been challenged by concerns regarding the lack of adequate long-term responses in patients. The development of microneedles (MNs) has resulted in the improvement and expansion of immuno-reprogramming strategies due to the housing of high accumulation of dendritic cells, macrophages, lymphocytes, and mast cells in the dermis layer of the skin. In addition, MNs possess many outstanding properties, such as the ability for the painless traverse of the stratum corneum, minimal invasiveness, facile fabrication, excellent biocompatibility, convenient administration, and bypassing the first pass metabolism that allows direct translocation of therapeutics into the systematic circulation. These advantages make MNs excellent candidates for the delivery of immunological biomolecules to the dermal antigen-presenting cells in the skin with the aim of vaccinating or treating different diseases, such as cancer and autoimmune disorders, with minimal invasiveness and side effects. This review discusses the recent advances in engineered MNs and tackles limitations relevant to traditional immunotherapy of various hard-to-treat diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Amani
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland; Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Ali Shahbazi
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland; Zanjan Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Research Center (ZPNRC), Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, 45139-56184 Zanjan, Iran.
| | - Carmine D'Amico
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland
| | - Flavia Fontana
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland
| | - Samin Abbaszadeh
- Zanjan Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Research Center (ZPNRC), Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, 45139-56184 Zanjan, Iran; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Hélder A Santos
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland; Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
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Shakya AK, Lee CH, Gill HS. Microneedle-Mediated Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Airway Allergy in Mice. Mol Pharm 2020; 17:3033-3042. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.0c00447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Akhilesh Kumar Shakya
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79409, United States
| | - Chang Hyun Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79409, United States
| | - Harvinder Singh Gill
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79409, United States
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Shakya AK, Ingrole RSJ, Joshi G, Uddin MJ, Anvari S, Davis CM, Gill HS. Microneedles coated with peanut allergen enable desensitization of peanut sensitized mice. J Control Release 2019; 314:38-47. [PMID: 31626861 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2019.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The prevalence of peanut allergies has escalated over the last 20 years, yet there are no FDA approved treatments for peanut allergies. In this study we evaluated the potential of microneedles to deliver peanut protein extract (PE) into skin and assessed if the ensuing immune responses could desensitize mice that were sensitized to peanuts. Peanut sensitized mice were either treated through cutaneous immunotherapy using PE-coated microneedles or not treated, and then orally challenged with PE. After oral challenge, the clinical symptoms of peanut-induced anaphylaxis were significantly lower in the microneedle treated mice as compared to untreated mice, and this was accompanied by down-regulation of systemic anaphylaxis mediators such as histamine and mast cell protease-1 (MCPT-1) in the microneedles treated group. Overall, there was an up-regulation of Th1 cytokines (IL-2 and IFN-γ) as compared to Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-5) in splenocyte culture supernatants of the microneedle treated group as compared to untreated group, suggesting that microneedles promoted immune modulation towards the Th1 pathway. Furthermore, mice treated with PE-coated microneedles were observed to retain integrity of their small intestine villi and had reduced eosinophilic infiltration as compared to the untreated but peanut sensitized mice, which further confirmed the desensitization capability of peanut cutaneous immunotherapy using coated microneedles. Thus, our current study represents a novel minimally invasive microneedle based cutaneous immunotherapy, which may provide a novel route of desensitization for the treatment of peanut allergies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rohan S J Ingrole
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - Gaurav Joshi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - Md Jasim Uddin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - Sara Anvari
- Section of Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Carla M Davis
- Section of Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Harvinder Singh Gill
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA.
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9
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Ingrole RSJ, Gill HS. Microneedle Coating Methods: A Review with a Perspective. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2019; 370:555-569. [PMID: 31175217 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.119.258707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A coated microneedle array comprises sharp micrometer-sized needle shafts attached to a base substrate and coated with a drug on their surfaces. Coated microneedles are under investigation for drug delivery into the skin and other tissues, and a broad assortment of active materials, including small molecules, peptides, proteins, deoxyribonucleic acids, and viruses, have been coated onto microneedles. To coat the microneedles, different methods have been developed. Some coating methods achieve selective coating of just the microneedle shafts, whereas other methods coat not only microneedle shafts but also the array base substrate. Selective coating of just the microneedle shafts is more desirable since it provides control over drug dosage, prevents drug waste, and offers high delivery efficiency. Different excipients are added to the coating liquid to modulate its viscosity and surface tension in order to achieve uniform coatings on microneedles. Coated microneedles have been used in a broad range of biomedical applications. To highlight these different applications, a table summarizing the different active materials and the amounts coated on microneedles is provided. We also discuss factors that should be considered when deciding suitability of coated microneedles for new-drug delivery applications. In recent years, many coated microneedles have been investigated in human clinical trials, and there is now a strong effort to bring the first coated microneedle-based product to market.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohan S J Ingrole
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
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van der Burg NMD, Depelsenaire ACI, Crichton ML, Kuo P, Phipps S, Kendall MAF. A low inflammatory, Langerhans cell-targeted microprojection patch to deliver ovalbumin to the epidermis of mouse skin. J Control Release 2019; 302:190-200. [PMID: 30940498 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2019.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In a low inflammatory skin environment, Langerhans cells (LCs) - but not dermal dendritic cells (dDCs) - contribute to the pivotal process of tolerance induction. Thus LCs are a target for specific-tolerance therapies. LCs reside just below the stratum corneum, within the skin's viable epidermis. One way to precisely deliver immunotherapies to LCs while remaining minimally invasive is with a skin delivery device such as a microprojection arrays (MPA). Today's MPAs currently achieve rapid delivery (e.g. within minutes of application), but are focussed primarily at delivery of therapeutics to the dermis, deeper within the skin. Indeed, no MPA currently delivers specifically to the epidermal LCs of mouse skin. Without any convenient, pre-clinical device available, advancement of LC-targeted therapies has been limited. In this study, we designed and tested a novel MPA that delivers ovalbumin to the mouse epidermis (eMPA) while maintaining a low, local inflammatory response (as defined by low erythema after 24 h). In comparison to available dermal-targeted MPAs (dMPA), only eMPAs with larger projection tip surface areas achieved shallow epidermal penetration at a low application energy. The eMPA characterised here induced significantly less erythema after 24 h (p = 0.0004), less epidermal swelling after 72 h (p < 0.0001) and 52% less epidermal cell death than the dMPA. Despite these differences in skin inflammation, the eMPA and dMPA promoted similar levels of LC migration out of the skin. However, only the eMPA promoted LCs to migrate with a low MHC II expression and in the absence of dDC migration. Implementing this more mouse-appropriate and low-inflammatory eMPA device to deliver potential immunotherapeutics could improve the practicality and cell-specific targeting of such therapeutics in the pre-clinical stage. Leading to more opportunities for LC-targeted therapeutics such as for allergy immunotherapy and asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M D van der Burg
- The Delivery of Drugs and Genes Group (D(2)G(2)), Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QL 4072, Australia
| | - Alexandra C I Depelsenaire
- The Delivery of Drugs and Genes Group (D(2)G(2)), Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QL 4072, Australia
| | - Michael L Crichton
- The Delivery of Drugs and Genes Group (D(2)G(2)), Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QL 4072, Australia
| | - Paula Kuo
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QL 4102, Australia
| | - Simon Phipps
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QL 4006, Australia
| | - Mark A F Kendall
- The Delivery of Drugs and Genes Group (D(2)G(2)), Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QL 4072, Australia; The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600, Australia.
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Abdalla HB, Jain AK, Napimoga MH, Clemente-Napimoga JT, Gill HS. Microneedles Coated with Tramadol Exhibit Antinociceptive Effect in a Rat Model of Temporomandibular Hypernociception. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2019; 370:834-842. [PMID: 30872390 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.119.256750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Coated microneedles have emerged as a promising drug delivery system for inflammatory pain treatment. We have previously shown that tramadol injection into the rat temporomandibular joint (TMJ) induces an antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effect. In this study, microneedles coated with tramadol were investigated as a platform to treat TMJ pain. Male Wistar rats were administered tramadol using an intra-TMJ injection or with microneedles coated with tramadol, followed by 1.5% formalin nociceptive challenge administered 15 minutes later. The nociceptive behavior of rats was evaluated, and their periarticular tissues were removed after euthanasia for analysis. The duration of antinociceptive effect was determined by performing the formalin challenge at different time points extending up to 6 days post tramadol administration. Microneedles coated with tramadol produced an antinociceptive effect similar to injection of tramadol into the rat TMJ. Surprisingly, tramadol delivery using coated microneedles produced a more durable antinociceptive effect lasting as much as 2 days post tramadol delivery as compared with an antinociceptive effect lasting under 2 hours from intra-TMJ injection of tramadol. The proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were found to be reduced, whereas the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was found to be elevated in tramadol-treated groups. In conclusion, microneedles coated with tramadol can offer a therapeutic option for pain control of inflammatory disorders in the TMJ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrique Ballassini Abdalla
- Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil (H.B.A.); Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas (A.K.J., H.S.G.); and Faculdade São Leopoldo Mandic, Instituto e Centro de Pesquisas São Leopoldo Mandic, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil (M.H.N., J.T.C.-N.)
| | - Amit K Jain
- Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil (H.B.A.); Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas (A.K.J., H.S.G.); and Faculdade São Leopoldo Mandic, Instituto e Centro de Pesquisas São Leopoldo Mandic, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil (M.H.N., J.T.C.-N.)
| | - Marcelo Henrique Napimoga
- Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil (H.B.A.); Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas (A.K.J., H.S.G.); and Faculdade São Leopoldo Mandic, Instituto e Centro de Pesquisas São Leopoldo Mandic, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil (M.H.N., J.T.C.-N.)
| | - Juliana Trindade Clemente-Napimoga
- Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil (H.B.A.); Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas (A.K.J., H.S.G.); and Faculdade São Leopoldo Mandic, Instituto e Centro de Pesquisas São Leopoldo Mandic, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil (M.H.N., J.T.C.-N.)
| | - Harvinder Singh Gill
- Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil (H.B.A.); Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas (A.K.J., H.S.G.); and Faculdade São Leopoldo Mandic, Instituto e Centro de Pesquisas São Leopoldo Mandic, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil (M.H.N., J.T.C.-N.)
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Shakya AK, Lee CH, Uddin MJ, Gill HS. Assessment of Th1/Th2 Bias of STING Agonists Coated on Microneedles for Possible Use in Skin Allergen Immunotherapy. Mol Pharm 2018; 15:5437-5443. [PMID: 30299105 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.8b00768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Microneedle-based skin allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) can benefit from adjuvants that can stimulate a stronger Th1 response against the allergen. We evaluated two stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonists, namely, cyclic diguanylate monophosphate (c-di-GMP) and cyclic diadenylate monophosphate (c-di-AMP), as skin adjuvants using coated microneedles (MNs). For comparison, the approved subcutaneous (SC) hypodermic injection containing alum was used. Ovalbumin (Ova) was used as a model allergen. Ova-specific IgG2a antibody in serum, which is a surrogate marker for Th1 type immune response was significantly higher when STING agonists were used with coated MNs as compared to SC injection of Ova+alum in mice. In contrast, IgG1 antibody, a surrogate marker for Th2 type immune response, was at comparable levels in the MN and SC groups. Restimulation of splenocytes with Ova produced higher levels of Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-2) in the STING agonists MN groups as compared to the SC group. In conclusion, delivery of STING agonists into the skin using coated MNs activated the Th1 pathway better than SC- and MN-based delivery of alum. Thus, STING agonists could fulfill the role of adjuvants for skin AIT and even for infectious disease vaccines, where stimulation of the Th1 pathway is of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akhilesh Kumar Shakya
- Department of Chemical Engineering , Texas Tech University , Lubbock , Texas 79409 , United States
| | - Chang Hyun Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering , Texas Tech University , Lubbock , Texas 79409 , United States
| | - Md Jasim Uddin
- Department of Chemical Engineering , Texas Tech University , Lubbock , Texas 79409 , United States
| | - Harvinder Singh Gill
- Department of Chemical Engineering , Texas Tech University , Lubbock , Texas 79409 , United States
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Shakya AK, Nandakumar KS. Antigen-Specific Tolerization and Targeted Delivery as Therapeutic Strategies for Autoimmune Diseases. Trends Biotechnol 2018; 36:686-699. [PMID: 29588069 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2018.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2017] [Revised: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence of autoimmune disorders is increasing steadily and there is no permanent cure available. Immunomodulation through repeated exposure of antigens, known as antigen-specific immune tolerance or antigen-specific immunotherapy (ASI), is a promising approach to treat or prevent autoimmune disorders. Different optimization protocols (immunization routes, delivery systems, and approaches) are being developed to implement ASI against self-proteins. Including appropriate adjuvants, altered peptide ligand, and using multipeptides are approaches that can be used to specifically target autoimmunity. This review explores various ASI application methods, including different routes of antigen-specific sensitization, delivery systems, immunomodulators containing specific antigens, and other targeted approaches that have been successfully demonstrated to have therapeutic effects on autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kutty Selva Nandakumar
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Chen WC, Murawsky CM. Strategies for Generating Diverse Antibody Repertoires Using Transgenic Animals Expressing Human Antibodies. Front Immunol 2018; 9:460. [PMID: 29563917 PMCID: PMC5845867 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic molecules derived from antibodies have become a dominant class of drugs used to treat human disease. Increasingly, therapeutic antibodies are discovered using transgenic animal systems that have been engineered to express human antibodies. While the engineering details differ, these platforms share the ability to raise an immune response that is comprised of antibodies with fully human idiotypes. Although the predominant transgenic host species has been mouse, the genomes of rats, rabbits, chickens, and cows have also been modified to express human antibodies. The creation of transgenic animal platforms expressing human antibody repertoires has revolutionized therapeutic antibody drug discovery. The observation that the immune systems of these animals are able to recognize and respond to a wide range of therapeutically relevant human targets has led to a surge in antibody-derived drugs in current development. While the clinical success of fully human monoclonal antibodies derived from transgenic animals is well established, recent trends have seen increasingly stringent functional design goals and a shift in difficulty as the industry attempts to tackle the next generation of disease-associated targets. These challenges have been met with a number of novel approaches focused on the generation of large, high-quality, and diverse antibody repertoires. In this perspective, we describe some of the strategies and considerations we use for manipulating the immune systems of transgenic animal platforms (such as XenoMouse®) with a focus on maximizing the diversity of the primary response and steering the ensuing antibody repertoire toward a desired outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihsu C Chen
- Biologics Discovery, Department of Therapeutic Discovery, Amgen British Columbia Inc., Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Christopher M Murawsky
- Biologics Discovery, Department of Therapeutic Discovery, Amgen British Columbia Inc., Burnaby, BC, Canada
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15
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Kim JH, Shin JU, Kim SH, Noh JY, Kim HR, Lee J, Chu H, Jeong KY, Park KH, Kim JD, Kim HK, Jeong DH, Yong TS, Park JW, Lee KH. Successful transdermal allergen delivery and allergen-specific immunotherapy using biodegradable microneedle patches. Biomaterials 2018; 150:38-48. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Revised: 10/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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16
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Shakya AK, Lee CH, Gill HS. Cutaneous vaccination with coated microneedles prevents development of airway allergy. J Control Release 2017; 265:75-82. [PMID: 28821461 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2017.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Allergy cases are increasing worldwide. Currently allergies are treated after their appearance in patients. However, now there is effort to make a preventive vaccine against allergies. The rationale is to target patient populations that are already sensitized to allergens but have yet to develop severe forms of the allergic disease, or who are susceptible to allergy development but have not yet developed them. Subcutaneous injections and the sublingual route have been used as the primary mode of preventive vaccine delivery. However, injections are painful, especially considering that they have to be given repeatedly to infants or young children. The sublingual route is hard to use since infants can't be trained to hold the vaccine under their tongue. In the present study, we demonstrate a microneedle (MN)-based cutaneous preventive allergy treatment against ovalbumin (Ova)-induced airway allergy in mice. Insertion of MNs coated with Ova as a model allergen and CpG oligonucleotide as an adjuvant (MNs-CIT) into the skin significantly induced Ova specific systemic immune response. This response was similar to that induced by hypodermic-needle-based delivery of Ova using the clinically-approved subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) route. MNs-CIT regulated Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5 & IL-13) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) in the bronchoalveolar fluid, and IL-2 and IFN-γ cytokines in restimulated splenocyte cultures. Absence of mucus deposition inside the bronchiole wall and low collagen around the lung bronchioles after Ova-allergen challenge further confirmed the protective role of MNs-CIT. Overall, MNs-CIT represents a novel minimally invasive cutaneous immunotherapy to prevent the progression of Ova induced airway allergy in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chang Hyun Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
| | - Harvinder Singh Gill
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA.
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17
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Macedo CG, Jain AK, Franz-Montan M, Napimoga MH, Clemente-Napimoga JT, Gill HS. Microneedles enhance topical delivery of 15-deoxy-Δ 12,14-prostaglandin J 2 and reduce nociception in temporomandibular joint of rats. J Control Release 2017; 265:22-29. [PMID: 28673836 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2017.06.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2017] [Revised: 04/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The pain arising from temporomandibular disorders is often treated with opioids and agents that inhibit the immune response and are associated with substantial adverse effects and long-term risks. Thus, the development of new therapies that are safer and more effective is of great interest to patients and clinicians. 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) is naturally produced in the human body and has anti-inflammatory properties. We have previously shown in a rat temporomandibular joint (TMJ) model that injection of 15d-PGJ2 into the rat TMJ can provide antinociceptive relief against a subsequent noxious challenge from formalin injection into the same TMJ. However, intra-TMJ injections are painful. Thus, to make the treatment patient friendly, this study aimed to evaluate whether the antinociceptive property of 15d-PGJ2 cream can be enhanced with microneedles (MNs). We found that topical application of 15d-PGJ2 cream for 15min directly on the rat TMJ skin did not induce any significant antinociceptive effect. However, if MNs were inserted in the skin for 5min, removed, and then 15d-PGJ2 cream was applied, a significant reduction in formalin-induced nociceptive behavior was observed. This reduction in nociception was comparable to an intra-TMJ injection of 15d-PGJ2. A concentration-dependent effect of 15d-PGJ2 was observed, with higher concentrations of 15d-PGJ2 in the cream showing a more durable effect up to 8h. 15d-PGJ2 cream associated with MNs also significantly reduced the release of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1 beta, which are pro-inflammatory cytokines. Our findings suggest that 15d-PGJ2 cream associated with MNs provides antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effect, and can offer a potential patient-friendly therapeutic option for pain control related to inflammatory disorders of the TMJ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina G Macedo
- Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Amit K Jain
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | | | - Marcelo H Napimoga
- Laboratory of Immunology and Molecular Biology, São Leopoldo Mandic Institute and Research Center, Campinas, SP, Brazil
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18
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Shakya AK, Chowdhury MYE, Tao W, Gill HS. Mucosal vaccine delivery: Current state and a pediatric perspective. J Control Release 2016; 240:394-413. [PMID: 26860287 PMCID: PMC5381653 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Revised: 01/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Most childhood infections occur via the mucosal surfaces, however, parenterally delivered vaccines are unable to induce protective immunity at these surfaces. In contrast, delivery of vaccines via the mucosal routes can allow antigens to interact with the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) to induce both mucosal and systemic immunity. The induced mucosal immunity can neutralize the pathogen on the mucosal surface before it can cause infection. In addition to reinforcing the defense at mucosal surfaces, mucosal vaccination is also expected to be needle-free, which can eliminate pain and the fear of vaccination. Thus, mucosal vaccination is highly appealing, especially for the pediatric population. However, vaccine delivery across mucosal surfaces is challenging because of the different barriers that naturally exist at the various mucosal surfaces to keep the pathogens out. There have been significant developments in delivery systems for mucosal vaccination. In this review we provide an introduction to the MALT, highlight barriers to vaccine delivery at different mucosal surfaces, discuss different approaches that have been investigated for vaccine delivery across mucosal surfaces, and conclude with an assessment of perspectives for mucosal vaccination in the context of the pediatric population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Wenqian Tao
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
| | - Harvinder Singh Gill
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA.
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Wang YQ, Liu Y, Wang YX, Wu YJ, Jia PY, Shan JJ, Wu J, Ma GH, Su ZG. The potential adjuvanticity of quaternized chitosan hydrogel based microparticles for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus inactivated vaccine. Int Immunopharmacol 2016; 39:84-91. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2016.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Revised: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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20
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Jain AK, Lee CH, Gill HS. 5-Aminolevulinic acid coated microneedles for photodynamic therapy of skin tumors. J Control Release 2016; 239:72-81. [PMID: 27543445 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2016] [Revised: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/15/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
This study evaluated the potential of coated microneedles for improved dermal delivery of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), which naturally gets converted by cells of the tissue in to a photosensitizer called protoporphyrin IX (PPIX). Microneedle patches containing 57 microneedles were coated with 5-ALA using an in-house developed micro-precision dip coater. The coating process was optimized to achieve higher 5-ALA loading on microneedles and a high delivery efficiency into porcine cadaver skin. Using 5 dips with 25% w/v 5-ALA solution, a mass of about 350μg of 5-ALA was coated per patch, which gave a delivery efficiency of about 90% in porcine cadaver skin. Bright-field and scanning electron microscopy established that coatings of 5-ALA on microneedles of the patch were uniform. In vivo dermal pharmacokinetics showed that delivery of just 350μg of 5-ALA using coated microneedles led to about 3.2-fold higher PPIX formation after 4h, as compared to topical application of 20% w/w 5-ALA in a conventional cream formulation (25mg cream). Furthermore, with use of coated microneedles, PPIX was observed in deeper regions of the skin (~480μm) as compared to topical 5-ALA cream formulation (~150μm). The potential of PPIX for photodynamic therapy was tested in vivo. After light exposure (633nm; 118J/cm(2)), PPIX got photosensitized, and due to higher initial amount of PPIX in the coated microneedle group, about twice the amount of PPIX was photobleached compared to topical cream application. Finally, even with a lower dose of just 1.75mg 5-ALA, coated microneedles suppressed the growth of subcutaneous tumors by ~57%, while a topical cream containing 5mg of 5-ALA did not suppress the tumor volume and led to tumor growth comparable to the untreated control group. Overall, the strategy of delivering 5-ALA using coated microneedles could be a promising approach for photodynamic therapy of skin tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit K Jain
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, 8th Street and Canton Ave, Mail Stop 3121, Lubbock, TX 79409-3121, USA
| | - Chang Hyun Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, 8th Street and Canton Ave, Mail Stop 3121, Lubbock, TX 79409-3121, USA
| | - Harvinder S Gill
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, 8th Street and Canton Ave, Mail Stop 3121, Lubbock, TX 79409-3121, USA.
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Moingeon P, Floch VBL, Airouche S, Baron-Bodo V, Nony E, Mascarell L. Allergen immunotherapy for birch pollen-allergic patients: recent advances. Immunotherapy 2016; 8:555-67. [DOI: 10.2217/imt-2015-0027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
As of today, allergen immunotherapy is performed with aqueous natural allergen extracts. Recombinant allergen vaccines are not yet commercially available, although they could provide patients with well-defined and highly consistent drug substances. As Bet v 1 is the major allergen involved in birch pollen allergy, with more than 95% of patients sensitized to this allergen, pharmaceutical-grade recombinant Bet v 1-based vaccines were produced and clinically tested. Herein, we compare the clinical results and modes of action of treatments based on either a birch pollen extract or recombinant Bet v 1 expressed as hypoallergenic or natural-like molecules. We also discuss the future of allergen immunotherapy with improved drugs intended for birch pollen-allergic patients suffering from rhinoconjunctivitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Moingeon
- Stallergenes Greer, Research Department, 6 rue Alexis de Tocqueville, 92183 Antony Cedex, France
| | | | - Sabi Airouche
- Stallergenes Greer, Research Department, 6 rue Alexis de Tocqueville, 92183 Antony Cedex, France
| | - Véronique Baron-Bodo
- Stallergenes Greer, Research Department, 6 rue Alexis de Tocqueville, 92183 Antony Cedex, France
| | - Emmanuel Nony
- Stallergenes Greer, Research Department, 6 rue Alexis de Tocqueville, 92183 Antony Cedex, France
| | - Laurent Mascarell
- Stallergenes Greer, Research Department, 6 rue Alexis de Tocqueville, 92183 Antony Cedex, France
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Zhao X, Birchall JC, Coulman SA, Tatovic D, Singh RK, Wen L, Wong FS, Dayan CM, Hanna SJ. Microneedle delivery of autoantigen for immunotherapy in type 1 diabetes. J Control Release 2016; 223:178-187. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2015.12.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 12/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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23
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Chen MC, Lin ZW, Ling MH. Near-Infrared Light-Activatable Microneedle System for Treating Superficial Tumors by Combination of Chemotherapy and Photothermal Therapy. ACS NANO 2016; 10:93-101. [PMID: 26592739 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5b05043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 220] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Because of the aggressive and recurrent nature of cancers, repeated and multimodal treatments are often necessary. Traditional cancer therapies have a risk of serious toxicity and side effects. Hence, it is crucial to develop an alternative treatment modality that is minimally invasive, effectively treats cancers with low toxicity, and can be repeated as required. We developed a light-activatable microneedle (MN) system that can repeatedly and simultaneously provide photothermal therapy and chemotherapy to superficial tumors and exert synergistic anticancer effects. This system consists of embeddable polycaprolactone MNs containing a photosensitive nanomaterial (lanthanum hexaboride) and an anticancer drug (doxorubicin; DOX), and a dissolvable poly(vinyl alcohol)/polyvinylpyrrolidone supporting array patch. Because of this supporting array, the MNs can be completely inserted into the skin and embedded within the target tissue for locoregional cancer treatment. When exposed to near-infrared light, the embedded MN array uniformly heats the target tissue to induce a large thermal ablation area and then melts at 50 °C to release DOX in a broad area, thus destroying tumors. This light-activated heating and releasing behavior can be precisely controlled and switched on and off on demand for several cycles. We demonstrated that the MN-mediated synergistic therapy completely eradicated 4T1 tumors within 1 week after a single application of the MN and three cycles of laser treatment. No tumor recurrence and no significant body weight loss of mice were observed. Thus, the developed light-activatable MN with a unique embeddable feature offers an effective, user-friendly, and low-toxicity option for patients requiring long-term and multiple cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Chin Chen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University , Tainan, Taiwan 70101
| | - Zhi-Wei Lin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University , Tainan, Taiwan 70101
| | - Ming-Hung Ling
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University , Tainan, Taiwan 70101
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