Vaccination without a syringe: Researchers test astonishing new method

Vaccinations are currently administered by injection, via the nasal mucosa, or as oral vaccinations. Researchers have now explored another option: vaccination with dental floss . " aponet.de " reports on the results and refers to a recent study from the USA published in the scientific journal " Nature Biomedical Engineering ."

According to the study, a dental floss holder was prepared with a special flu vaccine and administered to mice through the gums. Specifically, these were gold nanoparticles coated with a small component of the flu virus. Other animals received the vaccine through their noses or under their tongues. The results:

• The formation of antibodies with dental floss was similar to that with nasal vaccination.
• The formation of antibodies was significantly better with dental floss than with vaccination under the tongue.
• It made no difference to the results whether the mice consumed food or water immediately afterwards.
• It was shown that the administration of mRNA and protein vaccines as well as inactivated viruses also works.

Harvinder Singh Gill of North Carolina State University was part of the study and, according to "aponet.de," says: "The results are extremely promising, as most vaccine formulations cannot be administered through the nose—the barrier properties of the nasal mucosa prevent efficient absorption." Another advantage: With the flossing method, the vaccine cannot penetrate the brain.

According to Nature Biomedical Engineering, human subjects also participated in the study. In these subjects, "the fluorescent dye administered via dental floss sticks effectively reached the gingival sulcus, supporting clinical feasibility." According to DocCheck Flexikon, the gingival sulcus is "a circular depression between the tooth surface and the gingiva (gum)."