New microneedle patch accelerates oral ulcer healing via immune regulation

Oral ulcers are among the most common inflammatory conditions of the oral mucosa, often causing pain and interfering with daily activities such as eating and speaking. Current treatments, including topical drugs and steroids, are limited by short retention time and insufficient therapeutic effects. In a new study, researchers from China developed a microneedle patch loaded with mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes. The patch can directly penetrate the oral mucosa and deliver therapeutic molecules in a localized and controlled manner.

"The oral cavity presents a particularly challenging environment for drug delivery due to constant saliva flow and mechanical disturbance," explains senior and co-correspondig author Professor Yingjun Wang from the National Engineering Research Centre for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, South China University of Technology. "Our microneedle-based system enables direct intratissue delivery of exosomes, improving local retention while simultaneously promoting inflammation resolution and tissue regeneration."

In animal models, the exosome-loaded microneedle patches significantly accelerated ulcer healing. "Treated tissues showed reduced inflammation, enhanced epithelial regeneration, and increased collagen deposition compared with controls," says Wang. 

To understand how this therapy works, the team conducted single-cell RNA sequencing and proteomic analyses. They found that the treatment reshapes the interaction between macrophages and epithelial cells, key players in inflammation and tissue repair. "Specifically, the patches promote a shift from pro-inflammatory macrophages to anti-inflammatory phenotypes," shares co-corresponding author Professor Zhengmei Lin from the Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University. "Upon further analysis we identified TSP-1 as a critical exosomal protein mediating these effects. Through interaction with its receptor CD47, TSP-1 suppresses NF-κB signaling in macrophages, thereby reducing inflammation and promoting tissue regeneration."

Taken together, the team's the findings, published in Dental Research, suggest that exosome-loaded microneedle patches could serve as an effective and minimally invasive treatment for oral ulcers and potentially other mucosal inflammatory diseases.

Contact author:

Yingjun Wang

National Engineering Research Centre for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
Email: imwangyj@scut.edu.cn

Zhengmei Lin

Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
Email: linzhm@mail.sysu.edu.cn

Shuhong Kuang

Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
Email: kuangshh5@mail.sysu.edu.cn

Funder:

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82501109) and Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2023A1515110039).

Conflict of interest: 

The authors declare no competing interests.

See the article: 

Yang J, Fu H, Huang S, et al. Exosome-microneedle patches accelerate oral ulcer healing by remodeling macrophage–epithelial crosstalk via TSP-1/CD47/NF-κB signaling. Dental Research. Volume 1, Issue 2, 2026, 100032. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dtrs.2026.100032