Degradable microneedle patches loaded with antibacterial gelatin nanoparticles to treat staphylococcal infection-induced chronic wounds

Infection-induced chronic wounds cause prolonged pains, a high risk of amputation, and even increased mortality in immunocompromised patients. Here we report an antibacterial microneedle (MN) patch, which features high degradability in biological fluids and gelatinase-responsive release of an antibacterial photothermal peptide AMP-Cypate. We first synthesize gelatin nanoparticles (GNPs) and then conjugate the AMP-Cypate to afford composite [email protected] The proteinaceous nanoparticles can responsively release AMP-Cypate in the presence of gelatinase, an enzyme secreted specifically by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). [email protected] were then deposited in the tips of MNs fabricated by PVP and recombinant human type III collagen (Col III) to devise the antibacterial MN/[email protected] patches. When applied to the infection site, MNs break through the epidermis and the stratum corneum, dissolve in the infected dermis, reach the bacterial colony or biofilm, release [email protected], and exert a gelatinase-responsive photothermal therapy under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation to kill the pathogen S. aureus. In a rat model of staphylococcal infection-induced chronic wounds mimicking the condition of diabetic foot ulcer, the antibacterial MN/[email protected] patches eradiated the bacterial infection and resulted in complete healing of the wounds, proving its potential application in the treatment of chronic wound infections and diabetic foot ulcers.