Fluorescent Gold Nanocluster Microneedle Patch Accelerates Infected Wound Healing and Monitors pH

Managing infected wounds remains a significant clinical challenge, often leading to delayed healing and severe complications. Current wound dressings frequently lack both potent antibacterial properties and real-time diagnostic capabilities, making effective monitoring and targeted treatment difficult. The ideal solution requires a multifunctional platform that can actively combat bacterial infections while providing dynamic feedback on the wound's physiological state. This paper addresses this gap by developing an integrated therapeutic-diagnostic system using advanced biomaterials and nanotechnology.

Researchers developed a multifunctional hydrogel microneedle patch incorporating gold nanoclusters (Au NCs). The patch matrix was fabricated from a photo-crosslinkable hydrogel system based on methacrylated chitosan (CSMA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), forming arrays with high-strength needle tips and an ultra-flexible substrate. Controlled release of Au NCs was achieved through hydrogel swelling and subsequent biodegradation. The patch's antibacterial efficacy was evaluated in vitro, and its wound healing capabilities were assessed in vivo. The pH-sensing functionality was characterized by monitoring UV-excited fluorescence intensity variations of the Au NCs in wound exudate.

The developed microneedle patch, integrating Au NCs with a cell-penetrating peptide ligand and ultrasmall size-dependent effects, exhibited exceptional in vitro antimicrobial efficacy. This was attributed to the synergistic combination of the Au NCs' intrinsic nanozyme activity and robust photothermal conversion capability. The patch significantly accelerated in vivo wound healing processes, demonstrating its therapeutic potential. Furthermore, the pH-sensing functionality enabled semi-quantitative analysis of wound exudate acidity. > The synergistic integration of Au NCs' nanozyme activity and photothermal conversion capability resulted in exceptional antimicrobial efficacy and significantly accelerated in vivo wound healing.