Intelligent Microneedles Patch with Wireless Self-Sensing and Anti-Infective Actions

Traditional microneedle (MN) technology offers unique advantages in treating wound infections; however, its single-function design lacks the capability for real-time monitoring of wound conditions, often resulting in uncontrolled drug release. Herein, an anti-infective and intelligent MN patch (SP-CSMN) integrating three functional modules is developed, including temperature monitoring, Bluetooth wireless communication, and responsive drug release. The patch employed chitosan (CS) as a porous substrate, filled with temperature-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) to encapsulate and release the antibiotic rifampicin. With the integrated sensing chip, SP-CSMN enabled continuous temperature monitoring and real-time feedback via smartphone Bluetooth communication. When the wound temperature exceeds 36.5 °C for 6 h, the system can automatically identify the infection occurrence and activate the heating module to trigger PNIPAM contraction, triggering rifampicin release. This self-sensing and intelligent release cycles can repeat throughout its life-cycle. The SP-CSMN demonstrated precisely temperature-induced drug release and enhanced antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ) and Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) in vitro. Furthermore, it sensitively monitored wound temperature changes in infected mice and significantly accelerated wound healing via controlled drug delivery. This advanced MN system offers a promising solution for efficient management of bacterial wound infections.