A hyaluronic acid-based dual-functional hydrogel microneedle system for sequential melanoma ablation and skin regeneration

Melanoma treatment remains a challenge due to the inadequacy of existing clinical approaches and the difficulty of tissue regeneration. Recently, microneedles have been widely studied in tumor therapy and skin repair. Hence, a hyaluronic acid (HA)-based dual-functional hydrogel microneedle (MN) system was constructed to sequentially achieve tumor ablation and skin regeneration. Carbon nanotubes@calcium peroxide@tannic acid-Fe/chlorin e6 (CCa@TF/Ce6) nanomaterial was encapsulated in dissolvable polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinylpyrrolidone tips and accurately released to the tumor site to suppress melanoma via the photothermal and photodynamic therapies under the dual laser irradiation due to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and heat. Particularly, ROS and heat triggered immunogenic cell death, promoted dendritic cells maturation and reshaped the tumor-associated macrophage phenotype from the protumor M2 phenotype to the anti-tumor M1 phenotype, ultimately activating autoimmunity to eliminate the tumor. Following tumor ablation, the MN base accelerated skin regeneration owing to HB-PVA hydrogel through reducing oxidative stress, promoting cell proliferation and facilitating cell migration. Overall, the dual-functional hydrogel MN designed in this study, offers a new avenue for sequential melanoma combination treatment and skin regeneration.