Researchers have developed a microneedle patch that may improve oral ulcer healing by penetrating the oral mucosa and delivering therapeutic agents directly to the affected area, according to a news release dated May 22.
This could be a breakthrough, since existing treatments are often limited by poor retention at the treatment site and inadequate therapeutic effectiveness, according to the release.
"The oral cavity presents a particularly challenging environment for drug delivery due to constant saliva flow and mechanical disturbance," said Yingjun Wang, senior author of the study and a professor at the South China University of Technology, in the release.
Researchers developed a microneedle-based system designed to deliver exosomes into tissue, improving local retention and supporting both inflammation resolution and tissue regeneration. To better understand the mechanism behind the therapy, the team performed single-cell RNA sequencing and proteomic analyses, according to the release.
The findings showed that the treatment altered communication between macrophages and epithelial cells, which are important in inflammation and healing. In animal models, exosome-loaded microneedle patches significantly sped oral ulcer healing. Treated tissues demonstrated lower levels of inflammation compared to controls.
Additionally, the treatment enhanced epithelial regeneration and increased collagen deposition in healing tissues. The patches encouraged macrophages to shift from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory phenotypes. Further investigation identified thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) as a key protein responsible for these therapeutic effects. By binding to its receptor, TSP-1 inhibited signaling in macrophages, reducing inflammation and promoting tissue repair, according to the release.
Furthermore, the exosome-loaded microneedle patches may offer an effective and minimally invasive treatment for oral ulcers and other mucosal inflammatory conditions.
"Our microneedle-based system enables direct intratissue delivery of exosomes, improving local retention while simultaneously promoting inflammation resolution and tissue regeneration," Wang added.
