Lamprey-Teeth-Inspired Oriented Antibacterial Sericin Microneedles for Infected Wound Healing Improvement.

Abstract

The therapeutic efficacy of wound infections caused by bacteria is challenged by limited wound repairs and a high risk of inflammation. Microneedles have been generated for wound healing since they are able to efficiently pierce the epidermis and deliver drugs. However, regular microneedles cannot provide oriented traction to "shrink" the wound area, and most microneedles are made of inert polymers, which mainly serve as a support but rarely participate in the following physiological processes. Herein, inspired by lamprey teeth, we designed oriented antibacterial sericin microneedles with dually functionalized needles to provide penetration and directional traction. Sericin, derived from silkworm cocoons, was employed to fabricate microneedle tips, significantly improving skin repair via hair follicle regeneration and angiogenesis. Besides, zinc oxide nanoparticles were integrated as an antibacterial module, endowing the OASM with high bacterial suppression. It is believed that the synergy of these systems may effectively heal infected wounds, suggesting its clinically translational potential.