What’s the point? Oral drug delivery could take the edge off vaccinations

Needles could be a thing of the past if new drug delivery device takes off

It may not have the most appealing product name but the Mucojet could be a real game changer in the drug delivery device market. 

It’s hoped that one day this pill-sized cylinder will be able to administer vaccines via a jet inside the mouth – all without a needle.

The device is the work of researchers at University of California, Berkeley, who have carried out a proof-of-concept study conducted at the university.

According to Berkeley News the study didn’t test Mucojet on people but found that is could deliver vaccine-sized molecules to immune cells in the mouths of animals. It says the device is one step closer to improved oral delivery “which holds the promise of building immunity in the mouth’s buccal region of cells, where many infections enter the body”.

Patients hold the device against the inside of their cheek and the device releases a jet stream aimed at the buccal region. According to the university: “This region is rich in immune cells but underutilised in immunology because of the challenge of efficiently penetrating the thick mucosal layer in this part of the oral cavity with existing technologies, such as the oral spray often used for influenza vaccination”.

Kiana Aran, lead author of the study said: “The jet is similar in pressure to a water pick that dentists use. The pressure is very focused, the diameter of the jet is very small, so that's how it penetrates the mucosal layer."

The researchers tested the Mucojet on cheek tissue from pigs as well as live rabbits. The tests simulated how oral flu vaccine are administered and showed that the pressure of the jet improved the efficiency of the drug delivery.

The researchers state that their data indicates the immune response should be at least as good as that administered via a needle. The MucoJet also reduces the biohazardous waste that comes from disposing of used needles, and can be administered at home by the patient, without needing a medical professional on hand.

Aran said: "Imagine if we could put the MucoJet in a lollipop and have kids hold it in their cheek. They wouldn't have to go to a clinic to get a vaccine."