Dual functional 2dDR and ZnO-Microneedle array patch for tissue regeneration

Abstract

Chronic wounds, particularly those complicated by bacterial infections, pose a significant challenge in healthcare. This study aimed to develop a novel microneedle array system for the transdermal delivery of 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR), a promising agent for wound healing. The microneedle arrays were fabricated using chitosan and PVA, with varying concentrations of zinc oxide incorporated to enhance antimicrobial activity and drug release. Characterization studies confirmed the successful integration of components and demonstrated controlled drug release profiles. In vitro studies revealed that zinc oxide significantly improved drug release and exhibited potent antibacterial activity against a range of bacterial strains. Furthermore, the microneedles demonstrated excellent biocompatibility and promoted angiogenesis in a chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. In vitro scratch assays confirmed enhanced wound healing activity in the presence of zinc oxide-loaded microneedles. These findings suggest that the developed microneedle arrays hold substantial promise as a non-invasive and effective approach for the transdermal delivery of 2dDR to promote wound healing, particularly in the context of chronic infections.