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Pictured here is an array of stainless steel microneedles, created with a laser-cutting technique. Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University are studying the use of microneedle arrays as an alternative to traditional hypodermic needles for delivering flu vaccine. The tiny needles are too small to significantly stimulate nerve endings in the skin, so they can be applied without causing pain.
Researchers envision that microneedle patches, coated with a powdered form of the vaccine, could be mailed to persons who need the immunization, thus eliminating the need to visit a medical facility. The microneedle arrays can also be used to deliver other drugs and vaccines. Development of the microneedle flu vaccine is funded with two grants from the National Institutes of Health, totaling more than $11.5 million.Image credit: Gary Meek, Georgia Tech
