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 presents a novel approach for treating hypertrophic scars (HS) using functionalized microneedle (MN) patches that incorporate curcumin-loaded extracellular vesicles (Cur@EV) and a decellularized extracellular matrix from umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UdECM). The MN patches target the pathological microenvironment of HS by inhibiting mitophagy and inducing apoptosis in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (HSFs), leading to reduced collagen accumulation. UdECM promotes M2 macrophage polarization, reducing inflammation and fibrosis. In a rabbit HS model, the patches not only decreased scar formation but also promoted hair follicle regeneration, suggesting potential clinical applications for HS treatment. Future research will focus on optimizing the patch design and assessing its long-term safety and efficacy.
