In the future, people who are afraid of needles can comfortably get vaccinated with dental floss - Illustration: Bella Dental
The team found that when the vaccine was applied to dental floss and then administered to the junctional epithelium, the mice produced a significantly stronger mucosal antibody response than when the vaccine was administered sublingually, the current standard for oral administration.
The protection against influenza virus is similar to the nasal route, but without the risk of the vaccine reaching the brain.
The special feature of the junctional epithelium is that it has a higher permeability than other epithelial layers and is in direct contact with the bacterial environment, helping to deliver vaccines into the body effectively while still being safe.
This approach was also tested with three other common vaccine formulations (protein, inactivated virus, mRNA) and all produced strong immune responses both in the blood and on mucosal surfaces. Eating or drinking immediately after the “injection” did not reduce the vaccine’s effectiveness.
In an initial test of 27 people, the team used dental floss soaked in food dye to simulate vaccination, and the results showed that about 60% of the dye was delivered in the correct location. This suggests that dental floss could be a viable tool for needle-free self-injection.
However, this method is not applicable to children who have not yet grown teeth, and further research is needed in people with gum disease or oral infections.
The research team hopes that if successful in the next phase, the technique will move to clinical trials, opening up a simple, cheap vaccine option for people who are afraid of needles.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/doc-la-tiem-vac-xin-bang-tam-chi-nha-khoa-20250812132407445.htm
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