Dissolvable microneedles co-loaded with phycocyanin and Fe 3+ /EGCG nanoparticles for photothermal antibacterial and ROS-scavenging

Infected skin wounds remain a clinical challenge due to bacterial infection, excessive oxidative stress, and limited drug penetration. Here, we develop a hyaluronic acid (HA)-based dissolvable microneedle patch co-loaded with phycocyanin (Ph) and Fe 3+ /EGCG self-assembled nanoparticles (F/E NP). The resulting F/E NP@MN exhibits sufficient mechanical strength to penetrate the skin and rapidly dissolves in interstitial fluid, enabling efficient intradermal delivery of both Ph and F/E NP. Upon 808 nm near-infrared irradiation, F/E NP generate localized hyperthermia, exerting concentration-dependent photothermal bactericidal activity against E. coli and S. aureus . Meanwhile, the released EGCG and Ph effectively scavenge intracellular ROS and alleviate oxidative stress, as confirmed by ABTS radical scavenging and DCFH-DA intracellular ROS assays. Benefiting from the biogenic HA matrix, F/E NP@MN shows excellent cytocompatibility and hemocompatibility. This integrated platform combines photothermal sterilization with ROS scavenging, offering a promising multifunctional strategy for potential biomedical applications.