As the COVID-19 pandemic hit and vaccine development went into hyperdrive, Joseph DeSimone, an expert in precision drug delivery and 3D printing technology, had an idea for a new research project: a 3D-printed vaccine patch.
DeSimone, PhD, professor of radiology and of chemical engineering, knew that the dermal layer of the skin harbors many more immune cells than the muscle, and is therefore an ideal vaccine target. For some time, he had also been working on 3D-printed microneedle patches to deliver substances to the skin. Molded microneedle patches are already mainstream in the cosmetics industry, used as a vehicle for skin treatment, DeSimone said, but 3D printed patches offer the possibility of better, more precise designs.
