Photothermal-Chemotherapeutic Microneedle Patch Coloaded with HMnO₂ and DOX for Postoperative Management of Melanoma

Surgical resection remains the primary mode of treatment for melanoma. However, postoperative tumor recurrence and impaired wound healing significantly compromise the patient prognosis. In this study, we developed a microneedle (MN) patch coloaded with HMnO₂ and hydroxydaunorubicin (DOX) for the simultaneous management of residual disease and postsurgical wound repair. The MN patch enables efficient transdermal delivery of both agents by penetrating the stratum corneum and targeting the surgical site. Upon near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, HMnO₂ mediates photothermal ablation (PTT), effectively ablating residual melanoma cells while DOX suppresses the proliferation of potential micrometastases. Furthermore, the HMnO₂/DOX@MN system modulates the local inflammatory microenvironment, promotes angiogenesis, and enhances collagen deposition, thereby accelerating the wound healing. In vivo studies using a murine melanoma model demonstrated that the MN patch significantly reduced postoperative tumor recurrence and improved wound closure rates. This multifunctional microneedle platform presents a promising strategy for integrated postoperative management, following melanoma resection.