(176ak) Influence of Fluid Properties for Needle-Free Jet Injection of Nucleic Acid Vaccines

Needle-free drug delivery is highly sought after for reduction in sharps waste, prevention of needle-stick injuries, and potential for improved drug dispersion and uptake. Whilst there is a wealth of literature on the array of different delivery methods, jet injection is proposed as the sole candidate for delivery of viscous fluids, which is especially relevant with the advent of DNA-based vaccines.

We will report on our recent investigations of jet injection where the key parameter is fluid properties (viscosity, rheological profile etc.), whilst secondary effects such as nozzle geometry, standoff distance and skin tension are also considered. Both experimental (ex-vivo) and numerical simulation results will be presented.