Bacteriophage-loaded microneedle patches for targeted and minimally disruptive foodborne pathogen decontamination.

Abstract

Antibacterial additive use has surged because of rising incidences of food contamination despite concerns over antibiotic resistance. Bacteriophage (bacterial viruses) is a promising alternative with pathogen-level specificity. However, their commercial success has been limited by the considerable diffusion barriers they face within food, preventing effective delivery at contamination sites. Here, we introduce bacteriophage-loaded microneedle patches that enable targeted phage delivery directly within food, eliminating internal pathogens in a minimally disruptive manner. The application of microneedles within food is first explored. The platform is then substantiated by comparing performance in raw beef and cooked chicken, where we achieved up to 3-log reduction in <i>Escherichia coli</i>, meeting regulatory limits. In contrast, conventional surface application of the same phage failed to provide statistically significant decontamination. To ensure broad applicability, phage cocktails were also loaded into microneedles to demonstrate polymicrobial decontamination. This platform can also be adapted to extend food shelf-life by targeting spoilage-inducing bacteria.