Transcutaneous Immunization

Transcutaneous immunization (TCI), the introduction of antigens using a topical application to intact skin, is a new technology that has both practical and immunological merits. Practically speaking, a needle-free method of vaccine delivery will decrease the risk of needle-borne diseases, reduce the complications related to physical skin penetration, improve access to vaccination by eliminating the need for trained personnel and sterile equipment, and provide a simple means for multivalent or multiple boosting immunization. The immunological implications of TCI are profound as this technique appears to target highly accessible antigen presenting cells (APC) in the skin that can be exploited for a variety of immune outcomes. It has been our experience that TCI can be reliably and reproducibly conducted with a variety of antigens to induce potent and functional immune responses. Thus, this new method may significantly impact both the delivery of vaccines and open new possibilities for manipulation of the immune response.