Search Results (92)

The complex microenvironment of wounds, along with challenges such as microbial infections, tissue damage, and inflammatory responses during the healing process, renders wound repair a complex medical issue. Owing to their ease of administration, effective outcomes, and painless application, biomacromolecule-based wound dressings have become a focal point in current clinical research. In recent years, hydrogels, microneedles, and electrospun nanofibers have emerged as three novel types of wound dressings. By influencing various stages of healing, they have notably enhanced chronic wound healing outcomes and hold considerable potential for wound repair applications. This review describes the preparation methods, classification, and applications of hydrogels, microneedles, and electrospun nanofibers around the various stages of wound healing, clarifying the healing-promoting mechanisms and characteristics of the three methods in different stages of wound healing. Building upon this foundation, we further introduce smart responsiveness, highlighting the application of stimuli-responsive wound dressings in dynamic wound management, aiming to provide insights for future research. Full article

Background: Wound healing and scar management remain significant challenges in dermatology and aesthetic medicine. Recent advances in regenerative medicine have introduced plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PDENs) as potential therapeutic agents due to their bioactive properties. This study examines the clinical application of rose stem cell exosomes (RSCEs) in combination with established treatments for managing different types of scars. Methods: A case series of four patients with different scar etiologies (dog bite, hot oil burn, forehead trauma, and facial laser treatment complications) was treated with RSCEs in combination with microneedling (Dermapen 4.0, 0.2–0.4 mm depth) and/or thulium laser therapy (Lutronic Ultra MD, 8–14 J), or as a standalone topical treatment. All cases underwent sequential treatments over periods ranging from two to four months, with comprehensive photographic documentation of the progression. The efficacy was assessed through clinical photography and objective evaluation using the modified Vancouver Scar Scale (mVSS) and the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), along with assessment of scar appearance, texture, and coloration. Results: All cases demonstrated progressive improvement throughout the treatment course. The dog bite scar showed significant objective improvement, with a 71% reduction in modified Vancouver Scar Scale score (from 7/13 to 2/13) and a 61% improvement in Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale scores after four combined treatments. The forehead trauma case exhibited similar outcomes, with a 71% improvement in mVSS score and 55–57% improvement in POSAS scores. The hot oil burn case displayed the most dramatic improvement, with a 78% reduction in mVSS score and over 70% improvement in POSAS scores, resulting in near-complete resolution without visible scarring. The facial laser complication case showed a 75% reduction in mVSS score and ~70% improvement in POSAS scores using only topical exosome application without device-based treatments. Clinical improvements across all cases included reduction in elevation, improved texture, decreased erythema, and better integration with surrounding skin. No adverse effects were reported in any of the cases. Conclusions: This preliminary case series suggests that plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles, specifically rose stem cell exosomes (RSCEs), may enhance scar treatment outcomes when combined with microneedling and laser therapy, or even as a standalone topical treatment. The documented objective improvements, measured by standardized scar assessment scales, along with clinical enhancements in scar appearance, texture, and coloration across different scar etiologies—dog bite, burn, traumatic injury, and iatrogenic laser damage—suggest that this approach may offer a valuable addition to the current armamentarium of scar management strategies. Notably, the successful treatment of laser-induced complications using only topical exosome application demonstrates the versatility and potential of this therapeutic modality. Full article

Background: Scar formation and impaired wound healing represent significant challenges in dermatology and aesthetic medicine, with limited effective treatment options currently available. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and long-term outcomes of Damask rose stem-cell-derived exosome (RSCE) therapy in the management of diverse dermatological conditions, including traumatic wounds, surgical scars, and atrophic acne scars. Methods: We conducted a case series study from June 2023 to November 2024, documenting four cases with different types of skin damage treated with lyophilized RSCE products. Treatment protocols included a variety of delivery methods such as topical application, microneedling, and post-procedure care. Follow-up assessments were performed at intervals ranging from 7 days to 10 months. Results: All patients demonstrated significant improvements in scar appearance, skin elasticity, hydration, and overall tissue quality. In traumatic facial injury, RSCE therapy facilitated reduction in scar contracture and improved functional outcomes. For atrophic acne scars, comparative treatment of facial sides showed enhanced results with RSCE addition. Acute wounds exhibited accelerated healing with reduced inflammation, while chronic wounds demonstrated improved epithelialization and long-term scar quality. Conclusions: This case series provides preliminary evidence suggesting that RSCE therapy may offer significant benefits in wound healing and scar management. The observed improvements in tissue regeneration, inflammatory modulation, and long-term aesthetic outcomes warrant further investigation through controlled clinical trials. Full article

Background: Hyaluronic acid (HA) has emerged as a favored adjunct to restore volume after blepharoplasty and is very effective in the treatment of postoperative hollowness, sagging, and asymmetry. Its efficacy, rate of complications, and optimal injection technique are different in different clinical studies. Hyaluronidase has been studied by diverse methods in the treatment of HA complications, including chronic edema and surgical distortion. This study critically evaluated the efficacy, safety, and technical aspects of HA in the context of blepharoplasty outcomes. Methods: A systematic review was performed to evaluate the use of HA and hyaluronidase for post-blepharoplasty volume rejuvenation and the treatment of complications. Studies describing HA injection technique, time interval between blepharoplasty and injection, volumetric maintenance, complication rates, esthetic and functional results, and patient satisfaction scores were considered. Risk of bias was estimated with the ROBINS-I tool. Results: Sample sizes across the five included studies ranged from 5 to 109 patients, and follow-up intervals ranged from 1 month to 7 years. The age of patients ranged from 31 to 76 years, and females accounted for 86% of the participants in some studies. Injection of HA successfully restored meaningful volume, with retention persisting for over 12 months in the majority of cases. HA preoperative injection caused significant patient satisfaction in a short duration and was not associated with severe complications; delayed injection caused slight distortions in some revision operations. Lipofilling showed a reduced rate of complications (12%) compared with isolated blepharoplasty (20%), suggesting its utility as an adjuvant procedure of volume restoration. Hyaluronidase successfully treated recalcitrant edema, with improvements ranging from 50% to 100%, while the application of adjuvant RF microneedling caused complete remission (100%) in subjects with multiple treatments. The application of ultrasound imaging made measurements more precise, although methods of clinical assessment were significantly heterogeneous among the studies. Conclusions: HA displayed efficacy in terms of efficient volume restoration after blepharoplasty, especially when technique, time, and filler selection are meticulously optimized. In comparison to lipofilling, HA is seen as somewhat safer because of its reversibility and lower likelihood of adverse vascular events. Nonetheless, considerable variability in filler type, amount, timing of administration, and result evaluation constrains conclusive clinical recommendations. The use of hyaluronidase is an effective remedial approach for overcorrection or ongoing edema. Full article

Quantifying inflammation plays a critical role in understanding the progression and development of various diseases. Non-invasive or minimally invasive wearable biosensors have garnered significant attention in recent years due to their convenience, comfort, and ability to provide continuous monitoring of biomarkers, particularly in infectious diseases and chronic diseases. However, there are still areas for improvement in developing reliable biosensing devices to detect key inflammatory biomarkers in clinically relevant biofluids. This review first introduces common biofluids with a focus on the most clinically significant inflammatory biomarkers. Specifically, it discusses the challenges encountered in extracting and detecting analytes in these biofluids. Subsequently, we review three popular types of non-invasive wearable biosensors for inflammation monitoring (microneedle patches, flexible electronic skins, and textile-based sensors). The design and operational considerations of these devices are analyzed, followed by an exploration of the information processing approaches employed during data processing. Finally, we envision future opportunities by guiding the development and refinement of non-invasive or minimally invasive wearable biosensors for continuous inflammation monitoring in chronic diseases. Full article

The efficient and non-invasive collection of biological samples has become a critical challenge for the continued development of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). When integrated with minimally invasive microneedle (MN) sampling technology, SERS enhances its applicability in real-time, non-invasive molecular detection. This review focuses on the latest advances in MN-based SERS sensors. Firstly, a comprehensive summary is presented of MN types and research progress in the design and engineering of SERS-active MNs. Then, the sampling method of SERS MNs and the MN-based SERS detection mode are also described in detail. Finally, the applications of SERS MNs in fields such as disease diagnosis, drug monitoring, and food safety are highlighted. Additionally, current challenges are discussed and future development prospects are prospected with the aim of contributing to the design of MN-based SERS sensors for diverse applications. Full article

Microneedles (MNs) have emerged as a promising tool for pain-free drug delivery, offering an alternative to traditional syringe-based methods. Among various types of MNs, dissolving microneedles fabricated from hyaluronic acid (HA) have gained attention due to their biocompatibility and ability to deliver drugs with minimal discomfort. However, conventional HA MN fabrication techniques often limit needle lengths to a few hundred micrometers, which is insufficient for deeper drug penetration. This study introduces a novel fabrication method using bidirectional drawing lithography to extend the length of HA-based MNs. By adjusting the viscosity of HA solutions and employing a controlled pulling process, we demonstrate the feasibility of producing MNs with lengths ranging from millimeters to micrometers. An average height of 15 mm and tip diameters of approximately 80 μm were successfully produced. This advancement enhances the potential of HA MNs for transdermal drug delivery and interstitial fluid sampling. Full article

The fabrication of miniaturized and durable pH electrodes is a key requirement for developing advanced analytical devices for both industrial and biomedical applications. Glass electrodes are not an option in these cases. Electrodes based on metal oxides have been the most studied for pH sensing in these and other applications. Stainless steel pH electrodes have been an option for many years, both for measurement using steel as a sensitive material and using it as a substrate for the deposition of other metal oxides; in the latter case, the sensitive ability of stainless steel seems to play a crucial role. In addition, recent use as a substrate for materials such as polymers, carbon nanotubes, and metallic nanoparticles should be considered. This paper presents a review of this type of pH electrode, covering aspects related to the sensing mechanism, the treatment of stainless steel, potentiometric performances, applications, and the prospects of these sensors for use in modern analytical instruments. Sensing with the oxide passive layer and the artificial layer by oxidation treatments is analyzed. The use of metal oxides and other materials as the sensitive layer on stainless steel, their application in wearable devices, microneedle sensors, and combination with field-effect transistors for high-temperature pH sensing are covered as the most current and promising applications. Full article

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that originates in the melanocytes, the epidermis’ basal layer. The skin has traditionally been an attractive administration location for drug delivery in tumor therapy, and it is composed of three layers: the outermost stratum corneum (SC), the middle epidermis, and the deepest layer, the dermis. Melanoma can be treated using a variety of methods, such as chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, and biological therapy, but all are expensive and have side effects. Furthermore, the SC is the primary barrier that contributes to the impermeability of the skin, which is a limitation in epidermal drug transport and can aid in achieving effective drug concentration with minimal side effects at the target location. Microneedles (MNs) are tiny needles that are easy to use, inexpensive, and non-toxic. In recent years, MNs have been significantly studied for the treatment of melanoma due to their excellent biocompatibility, minimal invasion, high patient compliance, simple penetration process, and high SC penetration rate. Most notably, MNs can provide efficient and seldom unpleasant delivery carriers and synergistic effectiveness by combining multi-model techniques with immunotherapy, gene therapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), and photothermal treatment (PTT). This review will focus on biocompatibility, biodegradability, limitations, fabrication materials, release mechanisms, and delivery of the therapeutics of MNs for melanoma treatment. Full article

Background: Conventional approaches in treating psoriasis demonstrate several complications. methotrexate (MTX) has been frequently used for its efficacy in managing moderate to severe psoriasis. However, MTX acts as an antagonist in regular dosage, which creates a patient compliance issue with undesirable consequences for patients, which necessitates development of an innovative approach to enhance skin permeation. Therefore, this study examines the improved topical administration of MTX utilizing a transferosome-loaded microneedle (MNs) array patch for the management of psoriasis. Methods: A design of experiment was used assess the effect of phospholipid content and edge activator type on vesicle size and entrapment efficiency (EE) to fabricate and optimize transferosome-loaded MTX. Furthermore, the MTX was incorporated within MNs and assessed for in vitro-ex vivo-in vivo parameters. Results: The morphology result revealed vesicles mean diameter of 169.4 ± 0.40 nm and EE of 69 ± 0.48 (%). Compared to traditional formulations (MTX patch and gel), the optimized transferosome-loaded dissolving MN array patch showed a substantial increase in diffusion of MTX tested over rat skin. Furthermore, an enhanced therapeutic benefit at the application site through cumulative drug release profiles suggested sustained release of MTX over 24 h. Moreover, in vivo experiments showed that the MN array patch exhibited higher accumulation, compared to conventional formulation tested. In addition, the plasma concentration measurements demonstrated a reduction in systemic exposure to MTX, diminishing the possibility of intricacy while preserving localized therapeutic efficacy. The capability of the MN array patch to lance the epidermal layers was proven by histological assessments. Conclusions: Thus, transferosome-loaded MNs is a viable method of delivering MTX topically with prolonged drug release and reduced systemic toxicity. Full article

Melasma is an incredibly common dyschromic disorder, mostly impacting women with skin of color. There are three variants of melasma based on the depth of pathologic involvement: epidermal, mixed, and dermal. While there are many treatments for melasma, there is a paucity of research on melasma treatments and their dermatopathological correlates. A scoping review was conducted of all human trials on melasma with histopathologic analysis, including 37 trials in the final analysis. Most studies were conducted on women with a Fitzpatrick skin type of III or greater. Strong histologic evidence supports the utilization of retinols/retinoids for epidermal melasma and microneedling for dermal melasma. There is a paucity of trials conducted on melasma utilizing histologic correlates, and fewer still that are comprehensive to include analyses on quality of life. Full article

Accurate in vivo glucose monitoring is essential for effective diabetes management and for the care of pre-term infants in critical care. Glucose-monitoring techniques are broadly categorized into three types: invasive, minimally invasive, and non-invasive. Each method presents distinct advantages and challenges. Non-invasive glucose sensors, despite impressive advancements in recent years, still face issues with signal interference and accuracy, limiting their widespread clinical application. In contrast, implanted devices offer more reliable and consistent results in clinical settings, making them the current gold standard. This review provides an overview of the leading glucose-sensing technologies, detailing both their advantages and drawbacks. We discuss invasive techniques, such as implanted electrodes, which allow continuous glucose monitoring with high accuracy, but often come with risks of infection and discomfort. Minimally invasive methods, such as fluorescence sensors, Raman sensors, and microneedle arrays, aim to reduce discomfort while providing more precise measurements than non-invasive devices. Additionally, non-invasive methods, such as optical, infrared, and microwave techniques, are explored for their potential to provide pain-free, continuous glucose monitoring. Finally, the review highlights a brief comparison among the current technologies and future directions in the field, particularly the use of signal enhancement algorithms and integration with wearable devices. Full article

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease with a complex pathogenesis, influenced by various factors involving environment, genes, and immunity. The main symptoms of psoriasis include erythema, scales, itching, etc. At present, therapeutic drugs for psoriasis are continually evolving towards enhancing treatment efficacy and reducing side effects. Firstly, the pathogenesis and characteristics of psoriasis were summarized. Then, the types and benefits of topical therapy were introduced, such as the aspects of avoiding systemic toxic effects, first pass effect, and gastrointestinal reactions with accelerating the onset time of the drugs and improving its efficacy, and were compared to systemic drugs. In the case of methotrexate, cyclosporin A, Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, and phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4) inhibitors, this review had a further discussion on the improvement and translation of these molecules from systemic therapy to topical therapy in clinical practice. To further augment the limitation of skin permeability, nanotechnology and novel topical drug delivery system including nanomedicines, hydrogels, ionic liquids, and microneedles were elaborated for psoriasis management. Also, exploration of topical targeting pathogenic genes through small interfering RNA (siRNA) using nanoparticles and ionic liquids (ILs) is of great significance for long-term treatment in psoriasis. Taken together, the development of numerous topical delivery platforms is expected to achieve enhanced penetration, and precise and efficient delivery of small molecule and RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics in psoriasis with clinical translation prospects. Full article

Transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) offer an alternative to conventional oral and injectable drug administration by bypassing the gastrointestinal tract and liver metabolism, improving bioavailability, and minimizing systemic side effects. However, widespread adoption of TDDS is limited by challenges such as the skin’s permeability barrier, particularly the stratum corneum, and the need for optimized formulations. Factors like skin type, hydration levels, and age further complicate the development of universally effective solutions. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) address these challenges through predictive modeling and personalized medicine approaches. Machine learning models trained on extensive molecular datasets predict skin permeability and accelerate the selection of suitable drug candidates. AI-driven algorithms optimize formulations, including penetration enhancers and advanced delivery technologies like microneedles and liposomes, while ensuring safety and efficacy. Personalized TDDS design tailors drug delivery to individual patient profiles, enhancing therapeutic precision. Innovative systems, such as sensor-integrated patches, dynamically adjust drug release based on real-time feedback, ensuring optimal outcomes. AI also streamlines the pharmaceutical process, from disease diagnosis to the prediction of drug distribution in skin layers, enabling efficient formulation development. This review highlights AI’s transformative role in TDDS, including applications of models such as Deep Neural Networks (DNN), Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), BioSIM, COMSOL, K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), and Set Covering Machine (SVM). These technologies revolutionize TDDS for both skin and non-skin diseases, demonstrating AI’s potential to overcome existing barriers and improve patient care through innovative drug delivery solutions. Full article

The application of dissolving microneedle arrays (DMNAs) is an emerging trend in drug and vaccine delivery as an alternative for hypodermic needles or other less convenient drug administration methods. The major benefits include, amongst others, that no trained healthcare personnel is required and that the recipient experiences hardly any pain during administration. However, for a successful drug or vaccine delivery from the DMNA, the microneedles should be inserted intact into the skin. A successful penetration into the upper skin layers may be challenging because of the elastic nature of the skin; therefore, a minimum insertion force is required to overcome the total resistance force of the skin. In addition, the microneedles need to stay intact, which requires a certain mechanical strength, and be able to resist the required insertion force. In addition to the type of material with which the DMNAs are produced, the geometry of the DMNAs will also have a profound effect, not only on the mechanical strength but also on the number of insertions and penetration depth into the skin. In this review, the effects of shape, aspect ratio, length, width of the base, tip diameter and angle, and spacing of DMNAs on the aforementioned effect parameters were evaluated to answer the following question: ‘What is the optimal geometry of dissolving microneedle arrays?’. Full article