Embodiments of the invention provide multi-stage biodegradable drug delivery platforms and methods for the subcutaneous delivery of therapeutic agents (TA). Embodiments of the platform may be configured to subcutaneously deliver a first dose of a first TA which is absorbed into the body and/or blood stream (BBS) to produce a first therapeutic effect for a first selectable time period (STP), and subsequently after a second STP, deliver a second dose of a second TA which is absorbed into the BBS to produce a second therapeutic effect for a third STP. An embodiment of the platform may comprise a body having a tissue-penetrating end, a primary cavity having a first TA dose and a shell having a secondary cavity having a second TA dose. The first TA dose is released after the first STP and the second TA dose is released after the second STP by biodegradation of the shell.

Influenza vaccines are administered using solid biodegradable microneedles. The microneedles are fabricated from the influenza vaccine in combination with solid excipient(s) and, after penetrating the skin, they dissolve in situ and release the vaccine to the immune system. The influenza vaccine is (i) a purified influenza virus surface antigen vaccine, rather than a live vaccine or a whole-virus or split inactivated vaccine (ii) an influenza vaccine prepared from viruses grown in cell culture, not eggs, (iii) a monovalent influenza vaccine e.g. for immunising against a pandemic strain, (iv) a bivalent vaccine, (v) a tetravalent or >4-valent vaccine, (vi) a mercury-free vaccine, or (vii) a gelatin-free vaccine.

In an aspect of the invention, an array of microprotrusions is formed by providing a mold with cavities corresponding to the negative of the microprotrusions, casting atop the mold a first solution comprising a biocompatible material and a solvent, removing the solvent, casting a second solution atop the first cast solution, removing the solvent from the second solution, and demolding the resulting array from the mold. The first solution preferably contains an active ingredient.

The present invention is directed to devices, systems, and methods for detecting and/or monitoring one or more markers in a sample. In particular, such devices integrate a plurality of hollow needles configured to extract or obtain a fluid sample from a subject, as well as transducers to detect a marker of interest.

This special gut microbe and chemical substance sampling technology, utilizing swallowable capsules, is for purpose of determining roles gut contents play in some 52 of most costly, in lives and dollars, of diseases with their known origin in the human gut. Gut microbes and substances are collected, analyzed, medicinal substances and objects deployed, and special provisions for attracting, capturing and preserving certain strains of microbes, and means for perturbing the gut environment and immune system are all intended to research, discover, and ultimately find both the causes and cures for the most devastating human diseases, and in the process, create gut microbiome profiles.

A dispensing apparatus is for use by users to take a chamber, fill the chamber with an aerosolized vaccine or other medicament, and dispose of used chambers. A display provides instructions to encourage prompt inhalation by the user from a dispensed and filled chamber. The apparatus allows very fast administration of vaccines to large numbers of people. The aerosol dispenser apparatus detects the chamber is in correct position and delivers a pre-determined dose of aerosol. Once the dose is delivered a visual and/or audible indicator informs the user that the chamber is filled and that they can take the inhalation. The single dose aerosol chamber is optimized for efficient administration of an aerosol.

A vaccination kiosk having an interactive touch screen display allows a user to select one or more vaccines, medications, and/or pet care products to be dispensed and administered to a user-identified pet species. The vaccination kiosk further comprises a refrigerated housing or other product housing for storing the vaccines, medications, and/or pet care products, a magnetic card reader or similar payment reader for accepting and verifying payment for the vaccines, a dispensing means for dispensing selected vaccines, medications, and/or pet care products, a jet injector or similar vaccinating means for administering the vaccines, and a powering means to power the vaccination kiosk. In other implementations, a method for dispensing vaccines from a kiosk may comprise receiving profile information from a user relating to a species to be vaccinated, providing the user with a list of vaccines available in the kiosk for the selected species, receiving a request from a user for at least one vaccine based on the list of vaccines available, receiving payment from the user through a magnetic card reader or similar payment system, authorizing the payment, and dispensing one or more vaccines from said kiosk for on-site administration of vaccines to the selected species. In another implementation, a method of dispensing pet care products form a kiosk may comprise receiving profile information from a user relating to a pet species, providing inventory information relating to pet care products available in the kiosk for a selected species, receiving a request from the user for at least one pet care product, receiving payment information through a payment reading system, authorizing the payment information, and dispensing the pet care product from the kiosk.

Provided herein are vaccine compositions containing at least one retrievable biocompatible macrocapsule containing immuno-isolated allogeneic cells that secrete an immunomodulator such as GM-CSF (granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor) and an antigenic component such as autologous tumor cells or infectious agents. Also provided are kits and pharmaceutical compositions containing the vaccine compositions as well as methods of use thereof for therapeutic or preventative vaccination against tumors or infectious agents.

Influenza vaccines are administered using solid-biodegradable microneedles. The microneedles are fabricated from the influenza vaccine in combination with solid excipient(s) and, after penetrating the skin, they dissolve in situ and release the vaccine to the immune system. The influenza vaccine is (i) a purified influenza virus surface antigen vaccine, rather than a live vaccine or a whole-virus or split inactivated vaccine (ii) an influenza vaccine prepared from viruses grown in cell culture, not eggs, (iii) a monovalent influenza vaccine e.g. for immunising against a pandemic strain, (iv) a bivalent vaccine, (v) a tetravalent or >valent vaccine, (vi) a mercury-free vaccine, or (vii) a gelatin free vaccine.

The present invention relates to a dissolvable microneedle comprising needles made of a water-soluble material assembled on one side of a base, which is a sheet material having liquid-permeable cavities, wherein the needles being assembled to the base such that bottom portion of the needles is directly connected to the base, the connection of the bottom portion of the needle s to the base forming through a structure in which the bottom portion of the needles penetrates into the base (102), occupying some or all cavities of the base. The dissolvable microneedle with the structure according to the present invention is convenient to use as the penetrating structure that connects the needle s to the base can be dissolved quickly and efficiently; therefore, the base can be removed from the top skin without the needles embedded within the skin being pulled out. Hence, there is no clearly visible remainder on the top skin, and the active agent contained in or coated on the needles can also be released more effectively.