No More Needles? Researchers Develop Vaccine Delivery System Using Massage & Suction
PARIS – A potential revolution in vaccine delivery is underway, with scientists discovering a method to stimulate the immune system through skin stretching-potentially eliminating the need for customary injections. researchers, led by Elodie Segura, have demonstrated that manipulating skin strength can activate immune defenses, allowing vaccine molecules to penetrate the body alongside naturally occurring skin bacteria and trigger an immune response.
The breakthrough,published this week,addresses a critically important hurdle in global health: vaccine accessibility and patient hesitancy. Traditional injections require trained personnel and can be a source of anxiety for many. This new technique,if fully developed,could enable self-governance or simplified delivery in resource-limited settings,expanding vaccine coverage worldwide. The research, initially focused on understanding how immune cells react to physical stimuli, unexpectedly revealed a pathway for vaccine introduction.
Segura explained the core finding: “We realized that immune defence cells are capable of feeling the change of strength on the skin.” These cells, upon detecting the stretch, alert the immune system, causing the skin to expand and become more permeable. This creates an opportunity for vaccine molecules to enter the body.
To standardize the process and move beyond the variability of manual massage, the team engineered a small suction cup device designed to replicate the skin-stretching effect. While initial experiments showed manual massage to be more effective,the suction cup offers a crucial element of reproducibility. “During our experiences, manual massage is more effective than the suction cup.But for the sake of rigor, we needed to reproduce the same effect of massage without depending on a human being,” Segura stated.
The research, reported by 6media on October 5, 2025, at 10:51 am CEST, represents an early-stage advancement. Further studies are planned to optimize the suction cup technology and assess the efficacy of various vaccines delivered through this method. The team anticipates clinical trials within the next several years.
