The current influenza vaccine usually consists of proteins from pathogenic agents of the virus and is administered by injection into the muscle. However, single injection into the muscle often leads to incomplete protection. In addition, administration by injection is annoying and impractical, which hinders a high degree of vaccination. When it is technically possible to expose the immune system to the vaccine over a period of weeks, a qualitative and quantitatively high-quality immune response can be built up. In this project, research is being carried out on the development of biodegradable microneeds that allow (flu) vaccine to be administered painlessly and slowly released into the skin.Micron needles are tiny needles of less than one millimetre long that penetrate only into the upper layers of skin. The microneeds are applied to a surface (array), creating a microneeldle patch (MNP), which can be applied as a patch to the skin. With this, unlike ‘normal’ hypodermic needles, the administration of drugs is painless because it does not touch the nerve endings. The consortium wants to develop a technology in which the flu vaccine is slowly released from the microneeds. Compared to existing microneeds that, after being inserted into the skin, dissolve almost immediately, this is completely new. The aim is to produce the microneeds from biodegradable synthetic polymers that slowly break down (and eventually dissolve) over a period of several weeks to months. The necessary knowledge will be gathered during this project. The objective of this knowledge development project is to develop the necessary medical, scientific and technical knowledge to develop an MNP, based on biodegradable PEOZ multi-block co-polymers, in a follow-up project, with which flu vaccines can be administered.The project is in line with the challenge of health, demography and well-being set out in the RIS3 because the consortium is working towards a new technique that allows for a more effective vaccination. The project is also in line with specific objective B of the Operational Programme 2014-2020 Northern Netherlands because the knowledge position of SMEs based in the North Netherlands is improved through collaboration with two knowledge institutions, also located in the North Netherlands, and with Cardiff University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.The consortium consists of three parties:1. InnoCore Tehnologies B.V.: SME party, based in Groningen. Specialised in the development of injectable pharmaceutical forms of administration with controlled drug release based on biodegradable polymers. In this project focuses on the development of knowledge about: new biodegradable polymers with the required mechanical strength and release kinetics; MNP production technology; drafting development and commercialisation roadmap.2. University of Groningen (Group of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutical): Specialised in the development, analysis and validation of pharmaceutical forms of administration. Focus vision in this project on: stabilising subunit influenza vaccine; analysis of release kinetics and bioactivity of the vaccine; MNP production technology.3. University Medical Center Groningen (Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Vaccinology): Specialised in immunology and flu vaccination. In this project focuses on manufacturing and supplying subunit influenza virus vaccine and conducting animal experiments in vivo studies.
