Hydrogen Microneedle Patch Shows Promise for Treating Psoriasis
- Authors
- Dan Dan Zhu, Ryan Yi Da Lim, Yu Lin Poh, Dong Sheng Li, Srikala Raghavan, Peng Chen
- Journal
- Journal of Controlled Release
- Year
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jconrel.2025.114313
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Singapore
- Health Condition
- Psoriasis
- Body System
- Integumentary System
TL;DR
Microneedle-based hydrogen delivery reduces oxidative stress and inflammation in psoriasis, outperforming standard topical therapy.
Key Finding
In mice with psoriasis, transdermal hydrogen therapy delivered via microneedles outperformed calcipotriol cream, a standard topical treatment, by reducing inflammation, immune cell infiltration, and abnormal skin cell growth.
Summary
Researchers developed a new way to treat psoriasis (a chronic skin condition) by using tiny needles to deliver hydrogen-releasing powder directly into the skin. In mouse studies, this approach reduced skin inflammation and damage better than a standard psoriasis cream, by targeting two interconnected problems in psoriasis: oxidative stress (cellular damage from unstable molecules) and inflammation (the body's immune response gone wrong).
Practical Takeaway
While this early-stage research in mice suggests hydrogen therapy may be a promising approach for psoriasis, it has not yet been tested in humans. The study demonstrates proof-of-concept for a new delivery method, but much more research would be needed before this treatment could be available to patients.
Abstract
Psoriasis remains clinically incurable due to its complex etiology. Topical immunosuppressive therapies offer limited effectiveness partly because of poor skin permeability, and can cause severe side effects. To address these challenges, we developed a novel transdermal hydrogen therapy that targets the mutually-reinforcing coupling between oxidative stress and inflammation in psoriasis. Specifically, we designed a double-conical microneedle with high loading capacity and effective skin penetration to efficiently deliver MgH2 powders, enabling the sustained release of molecular hydrogen within the skin tissue. This minimally invasive, self-administrable treatment significantly outperformed calcipotriol cream, a current standard topical therapy. The transdermal hydrogen therapy greatly relieved oxidative damages, pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, immune cell infiltration, and ultimately mitigated keratinocyte hyperproliferation and systemic symptoms. Furthermore, the mechanistic investigations provide valuable insights into psoriasis pathogenesis. More broadly, this study demonstrates a new solution for treating inflammatory skin diseases and a new strategy for microneedle-based transdermal therapeutic delivery.