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Cyanobacteria-inspired hydroxypropyl chitosan-based reactive oxygen species responsive hydrogels and their drug loaded microneedles for removing wrinkles Full article

Journal European Polymer Journal
ISSN: 0014-3057 , E-ISSN: 1873-1945
Output data Year: 2026, Volume: 250, Article number : 114681, Pages count : DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2026.114681
Authors Haroon Muhammad 1 , Wang Li 1 , Yu Haojie 1 , Zhou Xinhui 2 , Basit Abdul 1 , Awan Khan Manqoosh 1 , Malik Owais 1 , Raza Saqlain 1 , Ahmad Dileep 1 , Vatsadze Sergey Z. 3
Affiliations
1 State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Low-Carbon Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, PR China
2 Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, PR China
3 N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 47 Leninsky Prop, 119991 Moscow, Russia

Abstract: Skin wrinkles formation is caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) which induce degradation of collagens and fibroblasts. While antioxidants like ascorbic acid (AA) and retinoic acid (RA) aid skin rejuvenation, their delivery is hindered by skin barrier. Here AA and RA loaded cyanobacteria-inspired ROS-responsive core-shell hydrogel microneedles (AR-CSMNs) were developed from methacrolyl hydroxypropyl chitosan (HPCMA) as base material and N,N bis(acryloyl)-cystamine (BAC) as ROS-responsive crosslinker. These microneedles had pyramidal shape and sufficient mechanical strength for skin penetration. Equilibrium AA release from AR-CSMNs was 89 %, in neutral environment while RA release from these microneedles was 95 % in H2O2 solution and only 66 % without H2O2. Finally, the microneedles were utilized for wrinkles treatment in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. AR-CSMNs visually reduced wrinkles in rats within four days and nearly completely removed wrinkles in seven days. These microneedles demonstrated effective skin penetration and targeted drug release for therapeutic applications.
Cite: Haroon M. , Wang L. , Yu H. , Zhou X. , Basit A. , Awan K.M. , Malik O. , Raza S. , Ahmad D. , Vatsadze S.Z.
Cyanobacteria-inspired hydroxypropyl chitosan-based reactive oxygen species responsive hydrogels and their drug loaded microneedles for removing wrinkles
European Polymer Journal. 2026. V.250. 114681 . DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2026.114681 WOS Scopus OpenAlex
Dates:
Submitted: Jan 29, 2026
Published online: Mar 29, 2026
Identifiers:
≡ Web of science: WOS:001733318100001
≡ Scopus: 2-s2.0-105034732065
≡ OpenAlex: W7140235897
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