Allergies are no joke and large sums of money are poured each year into developing more effective answers to what has become something of a modern-day epidemic. Millions of people are affected by different allergies every year, from white fish to pollen, egg and peanut. At www.dbv-technologies.com/en you’ll find details of what one Paris-based company has been doing to combat this menace.
Source: http://www.dbv-technologies.com
The result of the firm’s hard work is the Viaskin patch - an epicutaneous patch (i.e. designed to work through the skin). The patch is only viable thanks to the electrospray technology you can see pictured below. This piece of equipment is able to spray an electrically-charged stream of particles (antigens) onto a titanium backing on the patch. This ensures a completely even covering of antigens over the patch and helps preserve the chemical properties of the antigens. Once the patch is applied to the skin, body heat helps to create what is called a condensation chamber, which turns the dry powder into liquid form again, enabling it to penetrate the skin. This is much easier to apply than certain alternatives, for example, injecting antigens directly into the patient.