Sophia Sakers

BME PhD Proposal Presentation

Date: 2023-10-23
Time: 3:00pm
Location / Meeting Link: Suddath Seminar Room (IBB 1128) or Zoom (https://emory.zoom.us/j/97648108161)

Committee Members:
Mark Prausnitz, PhD (Advisor); James Dahlman, PhD; Brandon Dixon, PhD; Marcus Cicerone, PhD; Baozhong Wang, PhD


Title: Development and Characterization of a Microneedle Patch for mRNA Vaccines in Lipid Nanoparticles

Abstract:
In the modern, globally connected world, pandemics pose a significant public health threat. Methods to improve vaccine accessibility and patient compliance are a vital step toward a healthier populace. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, mRNA vaccines were produced rapidly to combat a novel virus, revealing their advantage over traditional vaccine types. A critical factor that led to translational mRNA vaccination was the development of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) as a delivery vehicle, which protect mRNA from degradation and increase its uptake into cells. Despite this key improvement, mRNA-LNPs remain unstable and require storage at ultra-low temperatures, and this is one factor that led to subpar vaccination rates in many countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alternate forms of vaccine administration may be the key to improving mRNA vaccine accessibility. One novel method of vaccine administration is the dissolvable microneedle patch (MNP), which consists of an array of solid, micron-scale needles made from water-soluble materials that encapsulate vaccines. These needles can be painlessly inserted into the upper layers of the skin and dissolve, releasing a vaccine for immune activation. MNPs do not generate sharps waste, and they can be administered safely and easily with little or no training, which eases the burden on healthcare personnel. A MNP for the administration of mRNA-LNP vaccines could increase vaccination rates through accessibility, administration efficiency, and patient compliance, and is a logical step forward in the development of both MNP and vaccine technology. In this project, I will 1) design a MNP to stabilize and deliver mRNA-LNPs, 2) investigate the breadth of application by studying alternative LNP compositions, and 3) investigate the immunogenicity of a mRNA-LNP-MNP for vaccination in a mouse model.