Psoriasis exhibits limited response to monotherapy, and customized combination strategies for synergistic treatment are constrained by skin permeability and insufficient control of drug activation. This study proposes a dissolving microneedle (MN) platform that integrates photodynamic therapy and chemotherapy for synergistic psoriasis treatment. The platform utilizes high-precision projection microstereolithography (PμSL) combined with a template replication strategy, coloading methotrexate (MTX) and a novel photosensitizer, 8-Phenyl-2,6-diiodo-1,3,5,7-tetramethyl BODIPY (I-BDP), into a poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) matrix to construct MTX/I-BDP@PVP MNs. The MNs efficiently penetrate the stratum corneum, enabling precise drug delivery to the lesion site, which matches the optimal penetration depth of green light. Upon green-light irradiation, I-BDP generates reactive oxygen species, synergizing with MTX to suppress keratinocyte hyperproliferation and induce apoptosis in HaCaT cells, with an apoptosis rate of 82.4%. The spatially confined activation minimizes off-target damage to healthy tissue. This synergistic MN platform offers a safe, controllable, and effective strategy for the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin diseases.
Liu et al. (2026) studied this question.