Genexine Life Sciences Provides Scientific Explanation of Mechanism Behind Suction-Based Skin DNA Vaccine Delivery Technology

On February 5, Genexine Life Sciences announced that a series of research papers published in international journals suggest that the DNA vaccine delivery technology using the company-developed suction-based skin DNA delivery medical device "Gene-Derm" may operate on a biological mechanism that utilizes cellular responses to mechanical stimulation.

A paper published online on January 12 in the international journal Advanced Therapeutics recently reported that, following suction-based skin DNA delivery using Gene-Derm, the antigen was rapidly expressed in keratinocytes of the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin, and that antigen-presenting cells (APCs) accumulated at the site, initiating an early immune response, as observed at the tissue and cellular levels. According to this study, antigen expression began within several hours after administration and was maintained for several days.

In addition, a review article published in 2025 in The Journal of Gene Medicine summarized that physical stimuli such as mechanical deformation and relaxation can induce changes in cell membrane tension, and that, in this process, the CLIC/GEEC pathway, a clathrin-independent endocytosis route, can be activated.

This pathway is described as a biological mechanism that is transiently activated while cells restore homeostasis after external stimulation and can allow the intracellular uptake of relatively large molecules.

Genexine Life Sciences interpreted these two studies to suggest that the Gene-Derm-based suction delivery method may activate keratinocyte-specific cellular response pathways during the mechanical stimulation applied to the skin and the subsequent relaxation process, thereby enabling efficient intracellular uptake of DNA and antigen expression.

This is distinct in that DNA does not merely pass physically through the cell membrane or directly penetrate the nuclear envelope, but instead takes an approach that leverages the cell's intrinsic program for responding to mechanical stimuli.

A Genexine Life Sciences official stated, "The studies published in Advanced Therapeutics and The Journal of Gene Medicine are meaningful in that they support the idea that Gene-Derm-based skin DNA delivery technology is grounded in a cell-biological mechanism of action, rather than being effective only at an empirical level," adding, "Evidence is accumulating that allows a more scientific explanation of DNA vaccine delivery and immune induction."

Going forward, Genexine Life Sciences plans to continue mechanistic studies on skin DNA delivery technology based on the Gene-Derm medical device and on its currently improved DNA vaccine platform, while gradually applying this technology to the development of personalized anti-cancer nucleic acid vaccines and vaccines against emerging and high-risk infectious diseases. Through this, the company aims to explore the potential to expand the technology into a next-generation nucleic acid vaccine delivery platform that can be utilized across a wide range of disease areas.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.