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. 2022 Apr 10;10(4):583.
doi: 10.3390/vaccines10040583.

Local Response and Barrier Recovery in Elderly Skin Following the Application of High-Density Microarray Patches

Fredrik Iredahl  1   2 , David A Muller  3 , Totte Togö  4 , Hanna Jonasson  5 , Ben Baker  6 , Chris D Anderson  7 , Joakim Henricson  7   8
Affiliations

Local Response and Barrier Recovery in Elderly Skin Following the Application of High-Density Microarray Patches

Fredrik Iredahl et al. Vaccines (Basel). .

Abstract

The high-density microneedle array patch (HD-MAP) is a promising alternative vaccine delivery system device with broad application in disease, including SARS-CoV-2. Skin reactivity to HD-MAP applications has been extensively studied in young individuals, but not in the >65 years population, a risk group often requiring higher dose vaccines to produce protective immune responses. The primary aims of the present study were to characterise local inflammatory responses and barrier recovery to HD-MAPs in elderly skin. In twelve volunteers aged 69−84 years, HD-MAPs were applied to the forearm and deltoid regions. Measurements of transepidermal water loss (TEWL), dielectric permittivity and erythema were performed before and after HD-MAP application at t = 10 min, 30 min, 48 h, and 7 days. At all sites, TEWL (barrier damage), dielectric permittivity (superficial water);, and erythema measurements rapidly increased after HD-MAP application. After 7 days, the mean measures had recovered toward pre-application values. The fact that the degree and chronology of skin reactivity and recovery after HD-MAP was similar in elderly skin to that previously reported in younger adults suggests that the reactivity basis for physical immune enhancement observed in younger adults will also be achievable in the older population.

Keywords: dielectric permittivity; evaporimetry; microneedles; polarisation spectroscopy; skin barrier integrity; skin reactivity; vaccination.

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Conflict of interest statement

B.B. is a Vaxxas employee. D.A.M. and C.D.A. have undertaken consultant work for Vaxxas. J.H. has a royalty agreement with the company (WheelsBridge AB) making the TiVi equipment. C.D.A. is a shareholder in WheelsBridge AB. The remaining authors declare no conflict. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schedule of the application sites of high-density microneedle array patches (HD-MAP). One HD-MAP applied to the volar forearm and one HD-MAP applied to the lateral deltoid region. Underline showing timepoints for measurements after the application of HD-MAP.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Typical dermatoscopic images from each time point ((a) pre-application, (b) 10 min after application of HD-MAP, (c) after 30 min, (d) 48 h and (e) 7 days). Note that petechiae are prominent after 10 and 30 min, and black dots are observed after 48 h and 7 days. The black circle displays areas with petechiae. Red circles display areas with black dots.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Graphs of mean values and standard deviation after measurement by evaporimetry (transepidermal water loss (TEWL)), dielectric permittivity, and polarisation spectroscopy (TiVi values) during the timepoints; pre-application, 10 min (n = 12), 30 min (n = 12), 48 h (n = 12), and 7 days (n = 4) after HD-MAP application. Explanations for subfigures: (A)—Forearm TEWL, (B)—Deltoid TEWL, (C)—Forearm polarisation spectroscopy, (D)—Deltoid polarisation spectroscopy, (E)—Forearm dielectric permittivity, (F)—Deltoid dielectric permittivity. * Shows significant difference with pre-application values.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Typical dielectric permittivity images of one individual from each time point ((a) pre-application, (b) 10 min after application of HD-MAP, (c) after 30 min, (d) 48 h, and (e) 7 days). Note that an initial increased response is observed within 30 min after application, followed by a decreased response compared to pre-application after 48 h and 7 days.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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