Microneedle array patches for allergen-specific immunotherapy

Drug Discov Today. 2023 Mar 15:103556. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103556. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe incidence of allergies has been steadily increasing in recent years. Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) represents the only approach capable of inducing long-term immune tolerance toward allergens. However, the clinical success of AIT is limited by efficacy or safety concerns related to the administration route. Therapeutic delivery in the skin appears promising, given the presence of immune cells in the skin and the relatively low level of systemic distribution that occurs with this delivery method {AuQ: Edit OK?}. However, the stratum corneum greatly limits this route. In this regard, the use of microneedles has been proposed to improve the delivery of therapeutics into the skin. In this review, we discuss recent developments in the use of microneedles for AIT, highlighting avenues for future research. Teaser: Allergen immunotherapy is the only approach that can induce long-term immune tolerance toward allergens. Microneedle array patches constitute a promising formulation strategy to deliver allergen immunotherapy painlessly to immune cells in the skin.PMID:36931387 | DOI:10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103556

Source: Drug Discovery Today - March 17, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Juan L Paris Lalitkumar K Vora Mar ía José Torres Cristobalina Mayorga Ryan F Donnelly Source Type: research