Mobile Magazine (02.11.13)
On February 5, researchers at King’s College London announced the capability of delivering a dried live vaccine to a patient’s skin with an alternative to a traditional needle. Scientists at the university have developed a tiny disc with several sugar micro-needles that dissolve when pressed into the skin. The discs potentially could be used in developing injection-free vaccinations for diseases such as HIV, malaria, and TB. The discs do not require refrigeration, which could lead to major reductions in manufacturing and shipping costs and eliminate the risk of transmitting blood-borne disease from contaminated needles and syringes.