Porous GelMA microneedle with delivery of AIE molecules via HSF-derived exosomes for hypertrophic scar treatment
摘要
Hypertrophic scarring (HS) occurs after surgery or wounding, leading to tissue dysfunction and damaging the appearance. However, no satisfactory treatment strategy is available because the demand for eliminating hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (HSFs) in HS remains unfulfilled. Here, aggregation-induced emission molecule (TTMN)-based porous gelatin methacryloyl microneedles (MNs) were fabricated. The TTMNs were encapsulated in HSF-derived exosomes, which were subsequently assembled in the MN patch. This MN patch exhibited good biocompatibility. When the porous MN patch was applied to the HS, it released exosome-encapsulated TTMN (TE) in the deep skin tissue, triggering a burst of abundant reactive oxygen species in the HS under light irradiation. This event led to marked inhibition of the proliferation and migration of HSFs and collagen deposition in these cells. The application of TE-loaded porous MN patches significantly prevented HS formation in the New Zealand rabbit model of HS, as evidenced by a remarkable decrease in the scar elevation index and collagen I deposition. Thus, this study offers a feasible, convenient, and effective strategy for applying aggregation-induced emission-encapsulated HSF-derived exosome-based porous MNs for the treatment of fibrotic skin diseases.