Multifunctional (Co3Fe)(S2)4-ion-microneedle patch: Synergistic antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and cell proliferation for accelerating wound healing

Preventing bacterial infection and accelerating wound closure are critical for wound healing. Herein, a novel multifunctional polyvinyl alcohol-polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVA-PVP) microneedle (MN) patch embedded with enzyme-like activity (Co3Fe)(S2)4 (CFS) nanoparticles and metal ions (Co2+ and Fe3+) was systematically synthesized for the management of bacteria-infected wounds. CFS regulated redox homeostasis and achieved bacterial eradication while concomitantly alleviating oxidative damage. Specifically, CFS generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) to eliminate bacteria and concurrently attenuated cellular inflammation by scavenging ROS through their superoxide dismutase-like (SOD) activity. Meanwhile, the results of RNA transcriptome sequencing and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analyses indicated that Co2+ and Fe3+ can inhibit inflammatory responses in mice by modulating the IL-17 and NF-kappa B signaling pathways. Therefore, CFS ion-MN significantly enhanced the healing of wounds infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in mice model without eliciting systemic toxicity. Overall, this study offers an innovative methodology for the development of composite materials for the effective treatment of wounds.