Multifunctional polysaccharide composited microneedle for oral ulcers healing

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Oral Medicine

Background:

• Oral ulcers are recurrent, with unclear causes, making effective treatment challenging.
• Current treatments offer limited efficacy due to drug degradation and displacement by oral environment factors.
• A need exists for advanced treatments that reduce infection and accelerate oral ulcer healing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a multifunctional polysaccharide composite microneedle patch for enhanced oral ulcer healing.
• To incorporate anti-inflammatory (dexamethasone) and angiogenic (basic fibroblast growth factor) agents into microneedles.
• To add antibacterial properties using a chitosan derivative for a comprehensive treatment.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of microneedle patches using hyaluronic acid (HA) tips loaded with dexamethasone (DXMS) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF).
• Application of hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan (HACC) to the back of the microneedle patch for antibacterial effects.
• In vitro evaluation of antibacterial activity, cell migration, and angiogenesis, followed by in vivo animal experiments.

Main Results:

• The microneedle patches demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against oral pathogens.
• Enhanced cell migration, growth, and angiogenesis were observed, indicating effective wound healing promotion.
• Animal studies confirmed that the multifunctional microneedle patches significantly accelerated oral ulcer healing.

Conclusions:

• Multifunctional polysaccharide composite microneedle patches offer a promising new strategy for treating oral ulcers.
• The combination of anti-inflammatory, angiogenic, and antibacterial properties in a single delivery system enhances therapeutic outcomes.
• This novel microneedle patch technology has substantial potential for clinical application in oral ulcer management.