Antibacterial and Proangiogenic Hydrogel Microneedle Patches for Wound Healing.

Abstract

Wounds represent a global and challenging healthcare issue, resulting in a cascade of consequences. Despite the widespread application of existing wound dressings, their performance and efficacy are significantly limited in terms of biocompatible matrices and functionalization for promoting vascularization and antimicrobial activity. In this study, we propose a drug-loaded microneedle based on a copolymer hydrogel composed of methacrylated chitosan and polyethylene glycol diacrylate incorporating antimicrobial peptide and vascular endothelial growth factor. These microneedles were applied to wounds where their degradation facilitated the release of the loaded drugs to exert antibacterial and angiogenic effects. In vitro experiments demonstrated that our microneedles exhibit uniform morphology, good structural integrity, controlled drug release, and other excellent properties. Upon interaction with cells and bacteria, they displayed biocompatibility and superior dual antibacterial capabilities. In an in vivo infectious wound model, the microneedles significantly promoted wound healing through their antibacterial and angiogenic effects, showing clear advantages over the control group. Thus, these drug-loaded microneedles serve as a multifunctional dressing, offering a promising novel strategy for wound repair.