VOA慢速英语--科学家开发出3D打印微针疫苗贴片,比注射免疫效果更好

American scientists say they have created a vaccine¹ patch that provides greater protection against infectious diseases than traditional injections.

A 3D printer is used to make the patch, which is smaller than the tip of a finger. Each patch – which contains many small "micro-needles" – can be put directly on the skin.

The researchers said in a statement the experiments showed the patch provided an immune response 10 times greater than vaccines² injected into arm muscles. And they reported it offered an immune response 50 times greater than vaccines injected under the skin.

The tests were carried out on mice, with plans to expand the experiments to humans.

The results were recently described in a study published in Proceedings³ of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The team was led by scientists from Stanford University and the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel⁴ Hill.

The researchers say the increased effectiveness happens because the patch releases substances directly into the skin, which is full of immune cells that are targeted by vaccines.

The scientists say that in addition to the patch vaccine being better at fighting disease, it has several other advantages over traditional injections. The patch is painless, does not require cold storage and can be given by individuals themselves.

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the importance of vaccines as a way to control viruses in massive populations. But there are barriers that prevent some populations from getting the injections. One of these is the need to keep the vaccines in cold storage. Another is that it can be difficult for people in many parts of the world to get to a place that can administer the shots.

The researchers developing the patch say they hope the method will one day help solve these issues and increase vaccine access to millions more people around the world. And because of how the patch works, a smaller amount of vaccine can be used.

Shaomin Tian is a researcher in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology in the UNC School of Medicine. She helped lead the study. She said in a statement that the team was able to overcome manufacturing difficulties that have hurt efforts in the past to create an effective patch vaccine that uses micro-needles.

Tian said one problem with past methods was a reduction in needle sharpness from repeated manufacturing using patch molds.

But the researchers' new method permitted them to directly 3D print the patches. "Which gives us lots of design latitude⁵ for making the best micro-needles from a performance and cost point-of-view," Tian said.

The team says it is continuing to work on developing ways to include current COVID-19 vaccines - such as those from Pfizer and Moderna - for use in micro-needle patches for future testing. The method could be used for other disease vaccines as well.

Other research has been done on the use of vaccine patches. Last year, scientists from the University of Pittsburgh announced they had developed a COVID-19 vaccine that could be delivered into the skin through a patch of 400 micro-needles.

And in Australia, researchers from the University of Queensland reported in June they had created a vaccine patch that demonstrated "extremely clear" results in tests on mice. The scientists said the patches produced "much stronger and more protective immune responses against COVID-19" than traditional vaccine delivery methods.

Words in This Story

patch – n. a small piece of material that is worn on the skin and contains a substance that enters the body through the skin

needle – n. a think, sharp, metal part of a piece of medical equipment used to take blood out of the body or put medicine in

immune – adj. if you are immune to a disease, you will not get it

response – n. a reaction to something

advantage – n. something (such as a good position or condition) that helps to make someone or something better or more likely to succeed than others

access – n. a way of getting near, at, or to something or someone

mold – n. a container that is used to make something in a particular shape

latitude – n. freedom to do what you want

deliver – v. transport something from one place to another

1 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

2 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

3 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

4 chapel   

n.小教堂，殡仪馆

参考例句：

• The nimble hero,skipped into a chapel that stood near.敏捷的英雄跳进近旁的一座小教堂里。
• She was on the peak that Sunday afternoon when she played in chapel.那个星期天的下午，她在小教堂的演出，可以说是登峰造极。

5 latitude   

n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区

参考例句：

• The latitude of the island is 20 degrees south.该岛的纬度是南纬20度。
• The two cities are at approximately the same latitude.这两个城市差不多位于同一纬度上。