Staff profile
Dr Marc Pearton - BSc PhD
Additional Information
Qualifications
BSc (Honours) in Genetics (Cardiff University)
PhD in drug delivery (Cardiff University)
Research Interests
- Novel techniques for intra-dermal delivery of macromolecules
- Intra-dermal gene delivery and expression
- DNA vaccination strategies
- The Biology and function of the immune system within the skin
- Skin Biology
Currently working as a research associate in the Gene Delivery Research Group headed by Dr James Birchall.
Research overview
Microneedle based immunisation against pandemic influenza
Funder:
This project is funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH).
Value: t.b.a.
Duration: 5 years
Seasonal influenza causes up to 1.5 million deaths worldwide each year. Pandemic influenza killed up to 50 million people during the three pandemics of the last century. Recent spread of avian influenza viruses has raised concerns that another pandemic is looming and could kill millions more. Our ability to deal with a future pandemic is limited in large part by inadequate methods to rapidly vaccinate against new threats. Hypodermic injection of vaccine, by medical personnel, is extremely time consuming, as seen during the prolonged and inefficient annual influenza vaccination campaigns. To expedite mass vaccination, this project proposes to develop microneedle-based vaccine patches that can be self-administered; do not produce sharp, biohazardous waste; and are low cost. Such patches could be rapidly distributed through pharmacies, fire stations or even the mail. Because microneedle patches target delivery to skin’s dendritic cells, much lower vaccine doses should be needed, which is vital when pandemic vaccine supplies are limited.
Relevant Journal Publications
Pearton M, Kang S-M, Song J-M, Kim Y-C, Anstey A, Ivory M, Compans RW and Birchall JC (2010) Morphological changes in human Langerhans cells in response to intradermal injection of H1 virus-like particle vaccines. PLoS ONE (in submission).
Song J-M, Kim Y-C, Lipatov AS, Pearton M, Davis CT, Yoo D-G, Park K-M, Chen L-M, Quan F-S, Birchall J, Donis RO, Prausnitz MR, Compans RW, and Kang S-M (2010) Microneedle delivery of virus-like particles to the skin induces long-lasting protective immunity against H5N1 influenza virus. Clinical and Vaccine Immunology (in press).
Pearton M, Kang S-M, Song J-M, Kim Y-C, Quan F-S, Anstey A, Ivory M, Prausnitz MR, Compans RW and Birchall JC (2010) Influenza Virus-Like Particles coated onto microneedles can elicit stimulatory effects on Langerhans cells in human skin. Vaccine (in press).
Coulman SA, Birchall JC, Alex A, Pearton M, Hofer B, O'Mahony C, Drexler W and Považay B (2010) In Vivo, In Situ Imaging of Microneedle Insertion into the Skin of Human Volunteers Using Optical Coherence Tomography. Pharmaceutical Research (in press).
Ng KW, Pearton M, Coulman S, Anstey A, Gateley C, Morrissey A, Allender C and Birchall J (2009) Development of an ex vivo human skin model for intradermal vaccination: tissue viability and Langerhans cell behaviour. Vaccine 27: 5948-5955.
Ng KW, Pearton M, Coulman S, Anstey A, Gateley C, Morrissey A, Allender C and Birchall J (2009) Ex vivo immunological studies using excised human skin. British Journal of Dermatology 160: 921.
Pearton M, Allender C, Brain K, Anstey A, Gateley C, Wilke N, Morrissey A and Birchall J (2008) Gene delivery to the epidermal cells of human skin explants using microfabricated microneedles and hydrogel formulations. Pharmaceutical Research 25: 407-416.
Birchall J, Coulman S, Pearton M, Allender C, Brain K, Anstey A, Gateley C, Wilke N and Morrissey A (2005) Cutaneous DNA delivery and gene expression in ex vivo human skin explants via wet-etch microfabricated microneedles. Journal of Drug Targeting 13: 415-421.
Morrissey A, Wilke N, Coulman SA, Pearton M, Anstey A, Gateley C, Allender C, Brain K and Birchall JC (2005) Determination of mechanical properties of silicon and polymer microneedles. International Federation of Medical and Biological Engineering proceedings 11(1): 1727-1983.
Conference Proceedings
Pearton M, Kang S-M, Song J-M, Kim Y-C, Quan F-S, Ivory M, Prausnitz MR, Compans RW and Birchall JC (2010) Human skin model for the assessment of microneedle delivered influenza VLP vaccines. 1st International Conference on Microneedles. Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Pearton M, Kang S-M, Song J-M, Kim Y-C, Quan F-S, Ivory M, Prausnitz MR, Compans RW and Birchall JC (2010) Immune stimulation following microneedle delivery of influenza virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines to human skin. The 3rd International symposium Cellular Delivery of Theraputic Macromolecules, Cardiff, UK.
Pearton M And Birchall J. (2009) Ex vivo human skin: a model for assessment of microneedle based Influenza vaccines. The 3rd international conference on Influenza vaccines for the world. Cannes Cedex, France.
Ng KW, Pearton M, Coulman S, Anstey A, Gateley C, Morrissey A, Allender C and Birchall J (2009) Microfabricated microneedles for ex vivo intraepidermal vaccination. Welsh School of Pharmacy Postgraduate Research Day. Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Ng KW, Pearton M, Coulman S, Anstey A, Gateley C, Morrissey A, Allender C and Birchall J (2009) Ex vivo immunological studies using excised human skin. British Society for Investigative Dermatology 2009 Annual Meeting. Cirencester, UK.
Ng KW, Pearton M, Allender C, Morrissey A, McLoughlin P and Birchall J (2008) Biomaterial microneedles for intraepidermal vaccination. Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineering and Repair 7th Annual Meeting. Abergavenny, UK.
Ng KW, Pearton M, Coulman S, Mukherjee S, Trasher A, Allender C and Birchall J (2008) Cutaneous vaccine and gene delivery using microneedles. Cellular Delivery of Therapeutic Macromolecules: 2nd International Symposium. Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Ng KW, Pearton M, Coulman S, Martin C, Allender CJ and Birchall JC (2007) Microfabricated microneedles for intraepidermal vaccination. Cardiff University Graduate School of Biomedical and Life Sciences Annual Lecture. Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Ng KW, Pearton M, Coulman S, Martin C, Allender CJ and Birchall JC (2007) Microfabricated microneedles for intraepidermal vaccination. MOLEDA Summer School. Paris, France.
Ng KW, Pearton M, Coulman S, Martin C, Allender C and Birchall J (2007) Microfabricated microneedles for intraepidermal vaccination. Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences: Therapeutic Bio/Vaccines. London, UK.
Pearton M, Allender C, Brain K, Anstey A, Gately C, Wilke N, Morrissey A, and Birchall JC (2006) Microneedle facilitated delivery of pDNA encoding HBsAg to human skin: potential for genetic vaccination. British Pharmaceutical Conference. Manchester, UK.
Pearton M, Allender C, Brain K, Anstey A, Gately C, Wilke N, Morrissey A, and Birchall JC (2006) Microneedle facilitated delivery of pDNA loaded hydrogels to the epidermis. 10th International Conference on Perspectives in Percutaneous Penetration. La Grande Motte, France.
Wilke N, Pearton M, Coulman SA, Allender C, Brian K, Birchall J and Morrissey A (2006) Assessment of penetration efficiency of microneedle arrays applied to human skin. 10th International Conference on Perspectives in Percutaneous Penetration. La Grande Motte, France.
Morrissey A, Wilke N, Coulman SA, Pearton M, Anstey A, Gately C, Allender C, Brain K and Birchall JC (2005) Determination of mechanical properties of silicon and polymer microneedles. 3rd European Medical and Biological Engineering Conference. Prague, Czech Republic.
Pearton M, Barrow D, Anstey A, Gately C, Morrissey A, Wilke N, Allender C, Brain K and Birchall JC (2005) Hydrogels based on PLGA-PEG-PLGA triblock co-polymers as sustained release reservoirs for the delivery of pDNA to microneedle treated human skin. British Pharmaceutical Conference. Manchester, UK
Birchall JC, Coulman SA, Pearton M, Allender C, Brain K, Barrow D, Gately C, Anstey A, Sweetland H, Wilke N and Morrissey A (2005) Cutaneous gene delivery and localised expression using microfabricated microneedle arrays. 2nd Annual Meeting, British Society for gene therapy. Manchester, UK.
Pearton M, Barrow D, Anstey A, Gately C, Morrissey A, Wilke N, Allender C, Brain K and Birchall JC (2005) Disruption of stratum corneum by microfabricated microneedles for gene delivery from hydrogels. British Society for Investigative Dermatology Annual Meeting. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Coulman SA. Allender C, Pearton M, Barrow D, Wilke N, Morressey A, Gately C, Anstey A, Sweetland H, Birchall JC (2004) Minimally invasive gene delivery to viable human skin. 12th Annual Conference of European Society for Gene Therapy. Tampere, Finland.
Pearton M, Gately C, Anstay A, Allender C, Brain K and Birchall J. (2004) Microfabricated microneedle channels provide “pathways” for the sustained release of plasmid DNA from Carbopol-940 hydrogels. 9th International Conference on Perspectives in Percutaneous Penetration. La Grande Motte, France.
Sorrell DA, Pearton M, de Mareschal C, McKibbin R, McMahon K, Marchbank A, Grierson C, Halford NG, Dickinson JR, Rogers H and Francis D (2000) CdK dephosphorylation and the control of plant division. Plant Science Wales Conference. Aberystwyth, UK.