Citation: Wenxiu Hu, Di Liu, Jingxian Gao, Xinyue Zhang, Qiqi Zhang, Lu Han. Bioinspired polyphenols nanoparticles-assembled microneedles integrating antioxidant defense with immune-melanogenic reprogramming for precision vitiligo phototherapy[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(8): 111877. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111877 shu

Bioinspired polyphenols nanoparticles-assembled microneedles integrating antioxidant defense with immune-melanogenic reprogramming for precision vitiligo phototherapy

Wenxiu Hu ^{a, b, 1} ,
Di Liu ^{a, b, 1} ,
Jingxian Gao ^{a, b} ,
Xinyue Zhang ^{a, b} ,
Qiqi Zhang ^{a, b} ,
Lu Han ^{a, b, *,}

a.
Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Glycoscience and Glycotherapeutic, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
b.
Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao 266237, China

hanlu@ouc.edu.cn

Received Date: 5 April 2025
Revised Date: 21 September 2025
Accepted Date: 23 September 2025
Available Online: 23 September 2025

Figures(4)

Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by progressive melanocyte loss. Conventional narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy for vitiligo faces limitations due to reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced phototoxicity and insufficient melanocyte regeneration in chronic applications. In this study, we propose a differential dual-release bilayer microneedle loaded with two natural plant-derived polyphenols nanoparticles, which integrates rapid antioxidant defense and sustained melanogenic reprogramming for precision vitiligo phototherapy. The upper layer, composed of hyaluronic acid (HA), encapsulates curcumin-fructose self-assembled nanomicelles (CF NMs) for rapid ROS scavenging (68.50% within 15 min), to prevent photodamage and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB)-mediated inflammation. The lower gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel layer sustains the release of psoralen-loaded melanin-mimetic mesoporous polydopamine nanoparticles (PMPN), which persistently inhibits the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling pathway and reduces autophagy-induced apoptosis, while enhancing tyrosinase activity (0.47-fold increase) to promote melanogenesis. In monobenzone-induced vitiligo mice, the CF/HA-PMPN/GelMA-MNs combined with NB-UVB demonstrated superior outcomes with 80.55% repigmentation at day 14 (vs. 25.90% in NB-UVB alone). This "rapid defense-sustained regeneration" paradigm provides a clinically translatable strategy to enhance efficacy and safety in vitiligo phototherapy.
- Microneedles,
- Polyphenol,
- Drug delivery,
- Antioxidative,
- Immunomodulation
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