Abstract
Skin wound caused by external injury is usually difficult to be cured by conventional topical administration because of its poor drug diffusion across the stratum corneum. It has been recognized that stratum corneum is the major obstacle for transdermal drug delivery. To address this issue, microneedles (MNs) have been developed to penetrate the stratum corneum of the skin and then form micron-sized pores between the epidermis and the dermis layers. As such, biomacromolecule drugs and/or insoluble drug molecules can be allowed for effective transdermal penetration. A multifunctional microneedle array patch that can avoid wound infection and promote tissue remolding has important value for wound healing. Among others, marine polysaccharides have attracted much attention in multifarious biomedical applications due to their excellent (bio)physical and chemical properties. Herein, we developed a microneedle array patch using a blend of kangfuxin (KFX), chitosan (CS), and fucoidan (FD), named KCFMN, for accelerating full-thickness wound healing. The traditional Chinese medicine KFX extracted from Periplaneta americana (PA) has effective bio-functions in promoting wound healing. The macro-/micro-morphology and (bio)physicochemical properties of such composite microneedles were also studied. We showed that the KCFMN patch displayed noticeable antibacterial properties and good cytocompatibility. In particular, the KCFMN patch significantly accelerated the wound healing development in a full-thickness wound in rats by improving the epithelial thickness and collagen deposition. Thus, this versatile KCFMN patch has great prospects as a dressing for full-thickness wound healing.
Highlights
The skin is the largest sensory organ of the human body, and it is the main barrier against harmful substances and microorganisms to protect tissues and organs and maintain homeostasis (He et al, 2021)
KCFMN patches were fabricated by a micro-molding technique
The fabricated KCFMN and CFMN patches were arranged in a 15 × 15 MN arranged on a 15 × 15 mm2 support base (Figures 2A,B)
Summary
The skin is the largest sensory organ of the human body, and it is the main barrier against harmful substances and microorganisms to protect tissues and organs and maintain homeostasis (He et al, 2021). Wound healing is a compound multi-level physiological process, which can be separated into four overlapping but distinct stages: hemostasis, inflammation, new tissue formation, and remodeling (Gurtner et al, 2008). Traditional wound dressing materials, such as gauze, hydrogels, sponges, and nanofibers are less efficient in inhibiting bacterial infection and promoting wound healing (Zhao et al, 2017; Chen G. et al, 2018; Chen H. et al, 2018; Yin et al, 2018; Lumbreras-Aguayo et al, 2019; Chen et al, 2020; Dong et al, 2020; Hao et al, 2020; He et al, 2020; Li et al, 2020; Montaser et al, 2020; Qian et al, 2020; Yang et al, 2020; Qian et al, 2021a; Qian et al, 2021b; Dong and Guo, 2021; Hao et al, 2021; He et al, 2021; Wang et al, 2021; Yin et al, 2021; Zheng et al, 2021). It is urgent to develop new approaches for full-thickness wound repair
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
