Microneedle patches loaded with bacterial attractants and nanozymes for targeting treatment of infection

Bacterial infections have emerged as a major and persistent concern to public health. Due to the escalating problem of antibiotic resistance because of gene mutation and selective pressure, developing bacteria-targeting materials as alternatives has become crucial. Traditional targeting strategies, such as binding cationic groups, proteins and antibodies, however, often suffer from inefficiencies and off-target interactions, leading to adverse drug reactions. In this study, a hyaluronic acid methacrylate (HAMA) microneedle loaded with the bacterial chemoattractant of L-arginine and nanozyme of Palladium nanocubes is designed to overcome this challenge. L-arginine actively draws bacteria to the microneedle surface, facilitating more precise antibacterial action. At the same time, the Pd nanocubes exhibit peroxidase-like activity, producing reactive oxygen species (ROS), effectively killing bacteria. In vitro studies confirm L-arginine’s attraction ability and the Pd nanocubes’ antibacterial efficacy. When applied to subcutaneous abscesses in mice, the microneedle patches demonstrate effective bacterial targeting and killing in vivo. This study introduces a novel bacteria-targeting approach that enhances the precision of targeted bacterial eradication.