Biguanide chitosan microneedles with cell-free DNA scavenging ability for psoriasis therapy
Zihao Liu, Yu Wang, Yuhan Zhang, Liufu Hu, Bo Zhi Chen, Yang Li, Xindong Guo, Bingran Yu, Fujian Xu
Abstract
High levels of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) induce psoriasis. Currently, the treatment of psoriasis has the disadvantages of penetration difficulty, suppression of normal immunity, and skin irritation. In this study, biguanide chitosan microneedles (BGC-MNs) were prepared to treat psoriasis by removing cfDNA from the dermis through the skin barrier. The effects of chitosan with different bisguanidine contents on DNA-binding capacity, biocompatibility, and inflammation inhibition were compared, revealing that chitosan containing 20% bisguanidine (BGC2) was found to have the best overall performance. In vitro, BGC2 effectively cleared cfDNA and inhibited the production of inflammatory factors. BGC-MN made from BGC2 had good mechanical and solubility properties. In vivo, BGC-MNs cleared cfDNA, reduced the level of inflammatory factors in the dermis, and exerted a good therapeutic effect on mice with psoriasis. These results suggested that BGC-MNs provided a new approach to treating psoriasis in terms of scavenging cfDNA and exerting anti-inflammatory effects.