[Development of transcutaneous vaccine formulations for the infectious disease countermeasure].

The recent vigorous transnational migration of people and materials reflecting the development of transportation facilities have increased the global spread of infections. On the basis of this social background, the development of vaccination, which is the only fundamental prophylaxis, is in attention. Even if, however, rapid manufacture of vaccine antigen is actualized, there are several problems that vaccine is not easily spread across the developing country, because conventional vaccination is performed mainly by injection. Our group developed two transcutaneous vaccine devices which delivered antigens to antigen-presenting cells: a hydrogel patch and a dissolving microneedle patch. Our transcutaneous immunization system using these devices receives a high evaluation as novel, easy-to-use, and low-invasive vaccination method against infections from home and abroad.