Electroporation of the skin to deliver antigen by using a piezo ceramic gas igniter

The static electricity generated by triggering a piezo gas igniter is shown to cause electroporation of the skin to deliver antigen. Mice were immuniz ed with chicken albumin by electroporation using a piezo gas igniter and in another experiment, the gas igniter was replaced by a power supply. In bot h the groups identical immune responses were generated. The change in imped ance of the skin of a mice after applying high voltage electrical pulses fr om a power supply and that with a gas igniter were found to be similar. The piezo gas igniter is an inexpensive and easily available device. It is muc h more user 'friendly' than a power supply used for electroporation and it may be viewed as a replacement for a syringe with a needle. (C) 2001 Elsevi er Science B.V. Ah rights reserved.