WEBVTT 00:00:00.469 --> 00:00:01.581 It's a pleasure to be here 00:00:01.581 --> 00:00:03.653 in Edinburgh, Scotland — 00:00:03.653 --> 00:00:06.892 The birthplace of the needle and syringe. 00:00:06.892 --> 00:00:09.748 Less than a mile from here in this direction 00:00:09.748 --> 00:00:13.280 in 1853 a Scotsman filed his very first patent 00:00:13.280 --> 00:00:14.106 on the needle and syringe 00:00:14.106 --> 00:00:16.237 his name was Alexander Wood 00:00:16.237 --> 00:00:19.987 and it was at the Royal College of Physicians. 00:00:19.987 --> 00:00:22.496 This is the patent. 00:00:22.496 --> 00:00:25.176 What blows my mind when I look at it even today 00:00:25.176 --> 00:00:27.411 is that it looks almost identical 00:00:27.411 --> 00:00:29.106 to needle in use today 00:00:29.106 --> 00:00:32.653 Yet, it's 160 years old. 00:00:32.653 --> 00:00:35.161 So we turn to the field of vaccines 00:00:35.161 --> 00:00:37.421 most vaccines are delivered with 00:00:37.421 --> 00:00:38.382 the needle and syringe 00:00:38.382 --> 00:00:41.560 this 160 year old technology 00:00:41.560 --> 00:00:43.754 and credit where its due on many levels 00:00:43.754 --> 00:00:47.590 vaccines ar a successful technology 00:00:47.590 --> 00:00:50.985 after clean water and sanitation, 00:00:50.985 --> 00:00:54.798 vaccines are the one technology that has increased 00:00:54.798 --> 00:00:57.960 our life span the most 00:00:57.960 --> 00:01:00.726 That's a pretty hard act to beat 00:01:00.726 --> 00:01:02.182 But just like any other technology 00:01:02.182 --> 00:01:04.780 vaccines have their shortcomings 00:01:04.780 --> 00:01:06.662 and the needle, the needle and syringe 00:01:06.662 --> 00:01:08.990 is a key part within that narrative 00:01:08.990 --> 00:01:11.670 this old technology. 00:01:11.670 --> 00:01:14.940 So let's start with the obvious, 00:01:14.940 --> 00:01:17.790 many of us don't like the needle and syringe. 00:01:17.790 --> 00:01:19.566 I share that view. 00:01:19.566 --> 00:01:22.958 However, the 20 percent of the population 00:01:22.958 --> 00:01:25.166 have a thing for needle-phobia 00:01:25.166 --> 00:01:26.662 that's more than disliking the needle that is 00:01:26.662 --> 00:01:29.342 actively avoiding being vaccinated 00:01:29.342 --> 00:01:31.220 because of needle-phobia 00:01:31.220 --> 00:01:35.259 And that's problematic in terms of the rollout of vaccines. 00:01:35.259 --> 00:01:37.218 now related to this is another key issue 00:01:37.218 --> 00:01:40.260 which is needle stick key injuries 00:01:40.260 --> 00:01:42.760 and the wh has figures 00:01:42.760 --> 00:01:45.267 that suggest about 1.3 million deaths per year 00:01:45.267 --> 00:01:47.611 take place during contamination 00:01:47.611 --> 00:01:49.820 with needle stick injuries 00:01:49.820 --> 00:01:51.563 These are early deaths that take place. 00:01:51.563 --> 00:01:54.651 Now these are two things that you probably may have heard of 00:01:54.651 --> 00:01:56.747 There's two other shortcomings of 00:01:56.747 --> 00:01:58.922 the needle and syringe you may not have heard about 00:01:58.922 --> 00:02:00.996 One is it could be holding back 00:02:00.996 --> 00:02:02.490 the next generation of vaccines 00:02:02.490 --> 00:02:04.779 and terms of their immune responses 00:02:04.779 --> 00:02:07.339 and the second is that it could be responsible 00:02:07.339 --> 00:02:10.372 for the problem of the cold train that I'll tell you about 00:02:10.372 --> 00:02:12.323 as well 00:02:12.323 --> 00:02:14.259 I'm going to tell you about some work that my team 00:02:14.259 --> 00:02:16.108 and I are doing in Australia 00:02:16.108 --> 00:02:17.602 the University of Queensland 00:02:17.602 --> 00:02:19.820 on a technology of design 00:02:19.820 --> 00:02:21.200 to tackle those four problems 00:02:21.200 --> 00:02:26.439 And that technology is called the Nanopatch. 00:02:26.439 --> 00:02:33.480 Now, this is a specimen of the Nanopatch 00:02:33.480 --> 00:02:34.760 To the naked eye 00:02:34.760 --> 00:02:36.944 it just looks likea square 00:02:36.944 --> 00:02:39.704 smaller than a postage stamp 00:02:39.704 --> 00:02:42.416 But under a microscope 00:02:42.416 --> 00:02:44.704 What you see is thousands of tiny proejctions 00:02:44.704 --> 00:02:46.960 that are invisible 00:02:46.960 --> 00:02:47.552 to the human eye 00:02:47.552 --> 00:02:49.144 and there's about 4 thousand projections 00:02:49.144 --> 00:02:49.896 on this particular square right here 00:02:49.896 --> 00:02:52.400 to the needle 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:54.600 and I've designed those projections 00:02:54.600 --> 00:02:55.784 to serve a key roll 00:02:55.784 --> 00:02:58.480 which is to work with the skin's immune system 00:02:58.480 --> 00:03:01.320 So that's a very important function 00:03:01.320 --> 00:03:03.160 tied into the Nanopatch. 00:03:03.160 --> 00:03:04.808 Now we make the Nanopatch 00:03:04.808 --> 00:03:07.360 with a technique 00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:09.742 called deep reactive ion etching 00:03:09.742 --> 00:03:11.144 and this particular technique 00:03:11.144 --> 00:03:13.152 is one that's been borrowed from the semiconductor industry 00:03:13.152 --> 00:03:15.600 and one as low costing 00:03:15.600 --> 00:03:17.424 can be rolled out in large numbers. 00:03:17.424 --> 00:03:19.602 Now we dry coat vaccines to the projections 00:03:19.602 --> 00:03:22.536 of the Nanopatch 00:03:22.536 --> 00:03:24.632 and apply it to the skin. 00:03:24.632 --> 00:03:28.942 Now the simplest form of application 00:03:28.942 --> 00:03:31.140 is using our finger 00:03:31.140 --> 00:03:33.509 But our finger has some limitations. 00:03:33.509 --> 00:03:35.838 So we've devised an applicator 00:03:35.838 --> 00:03:37.126 and it's a very simple device 00:03:37.126 --> 00:03:39.150 you could call it a sophisticated finger 00:03:39.150 --> 00:03:41.175 it's a screen operated device. 00:03:41.175 --> 00:03:45.386 What we do is when we apply the Nanopatch to the skin 00:03:45.386 --> 00:03:48.646 as so 00:03:48.646 --> 00:03:50.846 immediately a few things happen 00:03:50.846 --> 00:03:53.342 so firstly the projections on 00:03:53.342 --> 00:03:56.510 the Nanopatch breach through the tough outer layer 00:03:56.510 --> 00:03:58.630 and the vaccine is very quickly released 00:03:58.630 --> 00:04:00.718 within less than a minute in fact. 00:04:00.718 --> 00:04:02.746 Then we can take the Nanopatch off 00:04:02.746 --> 00:04:05.358 and discard it 00:04:05.358 --> 00:04:07.494 And indeed we can make a reuse 00:04:07.494 --> 00:04:12.370 of the applicator itself. 00:04:12.370 --> 00:04:13.507 So that gives you an idea of 00:04:13.507 --> 00:04:14.763 the Nanopatch and immediately 00:04:14.763 --> 00:04:16.515 you can see some advantages 00:04:16.515 --> 00:04:18.499 talk about a thing needle free. 00:04:18.499 --> 00:04:21.147 These are projections that you can't even see 00:04:21.147 --> 00:04:23.828 and of course we get around the needle-phobia 00:04:23.828 --> 00:04:26.900 issue as well. 00:04:26.900 --> 00:04:28.539 Now if we take a step back and think about these other two 00:04:28.539 --> 00:04:31.750 really important advantages 00:04:31.750 --> 00:04:34.877 one is improved immune responses through delivery 00:04:34.877 --> 00:04:38.657 and the second is getting rid of the cold chain. 00:04:38.657 --> 00:04:39.801 So let's start with the first one 00:04:39.801 --> 00:04:43.505 this immune asdjfks idea takes a little while 00:04:43.505 --> 00:04:43.698 to get our head around 00:04:43.698 --> 00:04:46.578 but I'll try to explain it in simple terms 00:04:46.578 --> 00:04:48.290 So I'll take a step back and explain to you 00:04:48.290 --> 00:04:51.838 how vaccines work in a simple way 00:04:51.838 --> 00:04:54.603 So vaccines work by introducing to our body 00:04:54.603 --> 00:04:56.673 a thing called an antogen 00:04:56.673 --> 00:04:59.865 which is a safe form of a germ. 00:04:59.865 --> 00:05:01.857 Now that safe germ, that antogen, 00:05:01.857 --> 00:05:05.474 tricks our body into an immune repsonse 00:05:05.474 --> 00:05:09.382 learning and remembering how to deal with intruders 00:05:09.382 --> 00:05:11.733 When the real intruder comes along 00:05:11.733 --> 00:05:13.942 the body quickly mounts an immune response 00:05:13.942 --> 00:05:15.269 to deal with that vaccine 00:05:15.269 --> 00:05:17.370 and neutralizes the infection. 00:05:17.370 --> 00:05:18.813 So it does that well. 00:05:18.813 --> 00:05:20.677 Now, why it's done today 00:05:20.677 --> 00:05:21.749 with the needle and syringe 00:05:21.749 --> 00:05:24.685 is most vaccines are delivered with this old technology 00:05:24.685 --> 00:05:26.677 and the needle but it could be argued 00:05:26.677 --> 00:05:29.407 that the needle is holding back 00:05:29.407 --> 00:05:30.637 our immune responses 00:05:30.637 --> 00:05:32.453 it's missing our immune sweet spot 00:05:32.453 --> 00:05:36.830 So to describe this idea 00:05:36.830 --> 00:05:39.376 we need to take a journey through the skin 00:05:39.376 --> 00:05:41.616 starting with one of those projections 00:05:41.616 --> 00:05:44.416 and applying the Nanopatch to the skin 00:05:44.416 --> 00:05:46.568 and we see this kind of data 00:05:46.568 --> 00:05:48.562 Now this is real data 00:05:48.562 --> 00:05:51.880 that thing that we can see there is one projection 00:05:51.880 --> 00:05:53.456 from the Nanopatch that's been applied to the skin 00:05:53.456 --> 00:05:55.336 and those colors are different layers. 00:05:55.336 --> 00:05:56.712 Now to give you an idea of scale 00:05:56.712 --> 00:05:58.624 if the needle was shown here it be much bigger 00:05:58.624 --> 00:06:01.352 it be ten times bigger than the size of that screen 00:06:01.352 --> 00:06:02.984 going ten times deeper as well. 00:06:02.984 --> 00:06:05.640 It's off the grid in time 00:06:05.640 --> 00:06:08.344 You can see immediately that we have those projections in the skin 00:06:08.344 --> 00:06:11.328 that red layer is a tough outer layer of dead skin 00:06:11.328 --> 00:06:13.728 but the brown layer 00:06:13.728 --> 00:06:14.488 and the magenta layer 00:06:14.488 --> 00:06:17.885 are jammed full of immune circles. 00:06:17.885 --> 00:06:19.125 As one example in the brown layer 00:06:19.125 --> 00:06:20.741 theres a certain type of cell called Langue 00:06:20.741 --> 00:06:23.662 and so every square millimeter of our body 00:06:23.662 --> 00:06:27.669 is jammed full of those Langerhan cells 00:06:27.669 --> 00:06:30.485 body that we have explained in this image 00:06:30.485 --> 00:06:32.605 but you can immediately see that the Nanopatch 00:06:32.605 --> 00:06:34.342 achieves that penetration deep 00:06:34.342 --> 00:06:37.895 we target thousands upon thousands of these particualar cells 00:06:37.895 --> 00:06:40.279 just residing in the hairs width 00:06:40.279 --> 00:06:42.575 surface of the skin 00:06:42.575 --> 00:06:48.156 now as the guy that has invented this thing 00:06:48.156 --> 00:06:49.324 and found out to do I find that exciting 00:06:49.324 --> 00:06:50.980 But so what? 00:06:50.980 --> 00:06:52.804 So what if you've targeted the cells 00:06:52.804 --> 00:06:53.684 in the world of vaccines 00:06:53.684 --> 00:06:54.996 what does that mean? 00:06:54.996 --> 00:06:57.966 The world of vaccines is getting better 00:06:57.966 --> 00:06:59.548 it's getting more systematic 00:06:59.548 --> 00:07:03.528 however, you still don't reallly know if a vaccine is going to work 00:07:03.528 --> 00:07:07.960 until you roll your sleeves up and vaccinate and wait 00:07:07.960 --> 00:07:09.648 it's a gambler's game even today 00:07:09.648 --> 00:07:12.408 So, we had to do that gamble. 00:07:12.408 --> 00:07:16.391 We obtained a new kind of vaccine, we applied it to Nanopatches 00:07:16.391 --> 00:07:19.447 and we applied the Nanopatches to the skin 00:07:19.447 --> 00:07:22.335 and this isn't a live animal. 00:07:22.335 --> 00:07:24.447 And we waited a month 00:07:24.447 --> 00:07:26.151 and this is what we found out: 00:07:26.151 --> 00:07:30.768 This is a data slide showing the immune responses that we've generated with a Nanopatch 00:07:30.768 --> 00:07:34.545 compared to the needle a syringe and -- 00:07:34.545 --> 00:07:38.172 So in the horizontal access we have the dose show in Nanograms 00:07:38.172 --> 00:07:42.769 on the vertical access we have the immune response generated on that dashed line 00:07:42.769 --> 00:07:46.360 At that dashed line indicates the protection threshold 00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:48.904 If we're above that dashed line it's considered 00:07:48.904 --> 00:07:51.568 If we're below that line, it's not. 00:07:51.568 --> 00:07:54.352 So the red line is mostly that curve 00:07:54.352 --> 00:07:57.979 and as you see theres only one point achieved with the needle thats protected 00:07:57.979 --> 00:08:00.608 and thats with a high dose of 6 thousand nanograms 00:08:00.608 --> 00:08:04.187 but notice immediately the distinctly different curve that we achieve 00:08:04.187 --> 00:08:06.392 with the blue line. 00:08:06.392 --> 00:08:08.520 That's what's achieved with the nanopatch 00:08:08.520 --> 00:08:11.152 the delivered dose of the Nanopatch is a completely different 00:08:11.152 --> 00:08:12.912 immune- fads curve 00:08:12.912 --> 00:08:15.392 that's a real fresh opportunity 00:08:15.392 --> 00:08:17.784 suddenly we have a brand new leaver 00:08:17.784 --> 00:08:19.280 in the world of vaccines 00:08:19.280 --> 00:08:22.312 We can push it one way where we can take a vaccine that works 00:08:22.312 --> 00:08:25.800 but is too expensive and we can get protection 00:08:25.800 --> 00:08:27.912 with a hundredth of the dose 00:08:27.912 --> 00:08:30.705 Or we can take it afkdaslf 00:08:30.705 --> 00:08:33.520 down to ten cents and that's particularly important 00:08:33.520 --> 00:08:35.544 within the developing world 00:08:35.544 --> 00:08:37.240 But there's another angle to this as well 00:08:37.240 --> 00:08:40.400 you can take vaccines that currently don't work 00:08:40.400 --> 00:08:41.490 and get them over that line 00:08:41.490 --> 00:08:43.232 and get them protective 00:08:43.232 --> 00:08:45.352 And certainly in the world of vaccines 00:08:45.352 --> 00:08:46.664 that can be important 00:08:46.664 --> 00:08:48.224 let's consider the big three 00:08:48.224 --> 00:08:51.800 HIV, Malaria, Tuberculosis 00:08:51.800 --> 00:08:53.776 they're responsible for about 7 thousand deaths per year 00:08:53.776 --> 00:08:56.512 and there is no adequate vaccination method for any of those. 00:08:56.512 --> 00:08:58.992 So potentially with this new leaver that we have with the Nanopatch 00:08:58.992 --> 00:09:02.472 we can help make that happen, we can push that leaver 00:09:02.472 --> 00:09:06.330 to help get those asdfkasfjla vaccines over the line. 00:09:06.330 --> 00:09:07.996 Now of course we've worked with the lab with many other vaccines 00:09:07.996 --> 00:09:11.645 that have attained similar responses and similar curves 00:09:11.645 --> 00:09:15.793 achieved with influenza 00:09:15.793 --> 00:09:18.291 I'd like to now switch to talk about 00:09:18.291 --> 00:09:20.209 another key shortcoming of today in vaccines 00:09:20.209 --> 00:09:25.136 and that is the need to maintain the cold chain. 00:09:25.136 --> 00:09:31.117 As the name suggests, it's the requirement of keeping a vaccine right from production 00:09:31.117 --> 00:09:33.225 all the through to when the vaccine is applied 00:09:33.225 --> 00:09:36.369 to keep it refrigerated. 00:09:36.369 --> 00:09:39.569 Now, that presents some logistical challenges 00:09:39.569 --> 00:09:42.329 but we have ways to do it. 00:09:42.329 --> 00:09:46.172 This is a slightly extreme case in point 00:09:46.172 --> 00:09:49.781 but it helps illustrate the logistical challenges 00:09:49.781 --> 00:09:57.347 in particular settings of what's required to get settings to maintain the cold chain 00:09:57.347 --> 00:10:00.987 if the vaccine is to warm the vaccine breaks down 00:10:00.987 --> 00:10:02.931 but interestingly the vaccine can be too cold 00:10:02.931 --> 00:10:05.680 and it will break down as well. 00:10:05.680 --> 00:10:09.106 The steaks are very high 00:10:09.106 --> 00:10:15.488 the WHR estimates that in Africa up to half 00:10:15.488 --> 00:10:16.553 the vaccines used there 00:10:16.553 --> 00:10:17.577 are considered to not be working properly because at some point 00:10:17.577 --> 00:10:19.105 the cold chain has fallen over 00:10:19.105 --> 00:10:20.810 So it's a big problem 00:10:20.810 --> 00:10:21.705 and it's tied in with the needle and syringe 00:10:21.705 --> 00:10:23.321 because the liquid at needs of refrigeration 00:10:23.321 --> 00:10:25.819 A key attribute of our Nanopatch is that the vaccine is dry 00:10:25.819 --> 00:10:34.377 and when it's dry it doesn't need refrigeration. 00:10:34.377 --> 00:10:37.890 Within my lab theres we can keep the vaccine stored 00:10:37.890 --> 00:10:40.210 at twenty-three degree's celcius for more than a year 00:10:40.210 --> 00:10:42.970 without any loss 00:10:42.970 --> 00:10:45.170 That's an important improvement. 00:10:45.170 --> 00:10:51.970 (Applause) 00:10:51.970 --> 00:10:54.359 We're delighted about it as well. 00:10:54.359 --> 00:10:58.714 And the thing about it is that we've well and truly proven 00:10:58.714 --> 00:11:01.346 the Nanopatch within the laboratory setting. 00:11:01.346 --> 00:11:05.382 And as a scientist, I love that and I love science. 00:11:05.382 --> 00:11:07.827 However, as an engineer, 00:11:07.827 --> 00:11:09.340 as a biomedical engineer 00:11:09.355 --> 00:11:11.482 and also as a human being, 00:11:11.482 --> 00:11:13.145 I'm not going to be satisfied until we've 00:11:13.145 --> 00:11:15.468 rolled this thing out and taken it out of the lab 00:11:15.468 --> 00:11:17.930 and got it to people in large numbers 00:11:17.930 --> 00:11:20.452 and particularly the people who need it the most. 00:11:21.511 --> 00:11:24.244 So we've commenced this particular journey 00:11:24.244 --> 00:11:26.982 and we've commenced it in an unusual way 00:11:26.982 --> 00:11:29.973 We've started with Papua New Guinea. 00:11:29.973 --> 00:11:32.125 Now Papua New Guinea 00:11:32.125 --> 00:11:35.502 is an example of a developing world country 00:11:35.502 --> 00:11:38.959 and its about the same size as France 00:11:38.959 --> 00:11:41.749 but it suffers from many of the key barriers 00:11:41.749 --> 00:11:45.862 existing within the world of todays vaccines. 00:11:45.862 --> 00:11:47.445 There's logistics: 00:11:47.445 --> 00:11:50.669 Within this country there are only 800 refrigerators 00:11:50.669 --> 00:11:51.885 to keep vaccines chilled. 00:11:51.885 --> 00:11:54.365 Many of them are old like this one in Port Moresby. 00:11:54.365 --> 00:11:55.741 Many of them are breaking down 00:11:55.741 --> 00:11:57.453 and many of them are not in the Highlands 00:11:57.453 --> 00:11:59.166 where they are required. 00:11:59.166 --> 00:12:00.413 That's a challenge. 00:12:00.413 --> 00:12:01.879 But also, Papua New Guinea 00:12:01.879 --> 00:12:05.475 has the worlds highest incidence of HPV, 00:12:05.475 --> 00:12:10.690 Human Papilloma Virus, the cervical cancer vaccine. 00:12:10.690 --> 00:12:12.589 Yet, that vacccine is not available in large numbers 00:12:12.589 --> 00:12:14.182 because it's too expensive. 00:12:14.182 --> 00:12:15.619 So for those two reasons 00:12:15.619 --> 00:12:17.206 with the attributes of the Nanopatch 00:12:17.206 --> 00:12:18.681 we've got into field 00:12:18.681 --> 00:12:19.704 and worked with the Nanopatch 00:12:19.704 --> 00:12:21.608 and taken it to Papua New Guinea 00:12:21.608 --> 00:12:26.143 and we'll be following that up shortly. 00:12:26.143 --> 00:12:29.550 Now doing this kind of work is not easy. 00:12:29.550 --> 00:12:30.918 It's challenging, 00:12:30.918 --> 00:12:32.567 but there's nothing else in the world 00:12:32.567 --> 00:12:34.359 I'd rather be doing. 00:12:34.359 --> 00:12:36.320 And as we look ahead 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:39.832 I'd like to share with you a thought — 00:12:39.832 --> 00:12:44.070 it's the thought of a future where 00:12:44.070 --> 00:12:46.342 the 17 million deaths per year 00:12:46.342 --> 00:12:48.714 that we currently have 00:12:48.714 --> 00:12:51.380 due to infectious disease is a historical footnote. 00:12:51.380 --> 00:12:53.366 And it's a historical footnote that has been achieved 00:12:53.366 --> 00:12:56.716 by radically improved vaccines. 00:12:56.716 --> 00:12:58.905 Now standing here today in front of you 00:12:58.905 --> 00:13:00.703 at the birthplace of the needle and syringe 00:13:00.703 --> 00:13:03.191 a device that's 160 years old 00:13:03.191 --> 00:13:05.820 I'm presenting to you an alternative approach 00:13:05.820 --> 00:13:08.730 that could really help make that happen 00:13:08.730 --> 00:13:09.870 and it's the Nanopatch 00:13:09.870 --> 00:13:11.863 with it's attributes of being needle-free, pain-free 00:13:11.863 --> 00:13:14.271 the ability for removing the cold chain 00:13:14.271 --> 00:13:16.135 and improving the immunogenicity. 00:13:16.135 --> 00:13:17.711 Thank you. 00:13:17.711 --> 99:59:59.999 (Applause)