Formulation Study and Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Natural Polymer-Based Dissolving Microneedles for Model Vaccine Delivery
Keywords:
Dissolving microneedles, transdermal vaccine delivery, polyvinyl alcohol, hyaluronic acid, natural polymer, ovalbumin, immunogenicityAbstract
Dissolving microneedle (DMN) arrays made from biocompatible natural polymers offer a promising transdermal vaccine delivery system that can reduce pain, eliminate cold-chain dependence, and minimize the need for trained healthcare workers compared to conventional injections. This study aimed to formulate and characterize natural polymer-based DMNs containing ovalbumin (OVA) as a model antigen and evaluate their immunogenicity in mice. DMNs (F1–F5) were prepared using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP K30), and hyaluronic acid (HA) at different concentrations through spin-casting into PDMS molds. The formulations were evaluated for morphology, mechanical strength, dissolution time, encapsulation efficiency, antigen release, and immunogenicity in BALB/c mice. The optimized formulation (F4; PVA 15%, PVP K30 10%, HA 1%) showed needle heights of 544.9 ± 15.1 µm, mechanical strength of 0.52 ± 0.04 N/needle, complete dissolution within 15 minutes, and encapsulation efficiency of 94.8 ± 1.8%. Immunogenicity testing demonstrated IgG titers comparable to subcutaneous injection controls. These findings indicate that natural polymer-based DMNs are a promising needle-free and patient-friendly vaccine delivery platform.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Emma Jayanti Besan, Muhammad Nurul Fadel, Nur Masyithah Zamruddin, Dara Sukma Ratmelya, Yuneka Saristiana
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