New research involving RMIT University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard Medical School could help make future mRNA vaccines easier to store and distribute, according to a study published in Advanced Functional Materials on July 7.
The study identified conditions that protect the particles carrying mRNA in dry vaccine patches. These patches use hundreds of tiny tips to deliver vaccines into the skin as an alternative to traditional injections. Researchers examined what happens to the fragile particles used for carrying mRNA when they are dried into dissolvable microneedle patch material.
Reducing reliance on cold-chain logistics could help remove barriers to vaccine delivery, especially in lower-resource settings. The paper builds on earlier research led by MIT showing that such patches could be printed and stored at room temperature using a model mRNA system. The new findings explain why some dry patch formulations perform better than others by drawing on expertise from all three institutions.
Lead author Dr. Brendan Dyett from RMIT said, "Many mRNA vaccines need to be stored at very low temperatures, adding cost and complexity to transport and delivery." Dyett added, "Our study helps explain how the particles that carry mRNA respond to drying and rehydration, which is an important step towards designing future vaccine patches that are more stable and practical to distribute."
The team used advanced imaging and X-ray techniques before drying, during drying, and after rehydration of the nanoparticles. This allowed them to determine which formulation conditions best preserved particle structure and biological activity. The study found both nanoparticle design and polymer amount influenced how well particles survived drying and redissolving.
Lead researcher RMIT Distinguished Professor Calum Drummond AO said, "This research is helping build the foundation for microneedle patches that could make advanced vaccines and therapies simpler to use and easier to access." Drummond continued, "The long-term goal is to support technologies that are not only effective but practical for the places and communities that need them most." Next steps include further optimizing formulations, testing immune responses, and exploring applications for other mRNA medicines.
