Targeted allergen-specific immunotherapy within the skin improves allergen delivery to induce desensitization to peanut.

Epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT) with peanut has been demonstrated to be safe but efficacy may be limited by allergen uptake through the skin barrier. To enhance allergen uptake into the skin, the authors used peanut-coated microneedles and compared them with EPIT in a peanut allergy mouse model. Sensitized mice were treated with peanut-coated microneedles or peanut-EPIT and then challenged with peanut to determine protection. Treatment with peanut-coated microneedles was safe and showed enhanced desensitization to peanut compared with peanut-EPIT administered via a similar schedule. Protection was associated with reduced Th2 immune responses and mast cell accumulation in the intestine. Peanut-coated microneedles have the potential to present a safe method of improving allergen delivery for cutaneous immunotherapy.