Remolding Microenvironmental Homeostasis for Enhancing Regenerative Hypertrophic Scar Treatment Based on Functionalized Microneedles
July 2025
in “
Interdisciplinary materials
”
hypertrophic scars functionalized microneedles mitophagy apoptosis inflammation curcumin-loaded extracellular vesicles decellularized extracellular matrix umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells M2 macrophage polarization collagen deposition hair follicle formation curcumin stem cells microneedle patch
TLDR A microneedle patch with curcumin and stem cell components effectively treats hypertrophic scars and promotes healing.
This study addresses hypertrophic scars (HS) by developing a functionalized microneedle (MN) patch that targets the pathological microenvironment of HS, characterized by elevated mitophagy, suppressed apoptosis, and excess inflammation. The MN patch integrates curcumin-loaded extracellular vesicles (Cur@EV) and a decellularized extracellular matrix from umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UdECM). This combination inhibits mitophagy, promotes apoptosis, reduces collagen deposition, and modulates inflammation by facilitating M2 macrophage polarization. In a rabbit HS model, the MN patch demonstrated regenerative therapeutic outcomes, including HS inhibition and new hair follicle formation. This innovative approach offers a minimally invasive strategy for HS management, with future research focusing on optimizing patch design, assessing long-term safety and efficacy, and exploring broader applications.
