Simple Dissolvable Patch Administers Vaccines

Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University have created a dissolvable patch that can deliver vaccine into the skin painlessly. Each patch consists of microscopic needles made from a special blend of vinyl pyrrolidone and freeze-dried vaccine and simply has to be pressed against the skin which causes the microneedles to dissolve in the body’s fluids.

Besides eliminating any risk of shared needles because of the dissolvable nature of the patch, it can be easily self-administered or by health care officials with minimal training, thus reducing the need for experts and lowering the cost of immunization programs in developing countries.

Georgia Institute of Technology

Emory University

[via Inhabitat]