Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42216778›Full record

ArticleSmall (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)2026

Innovative Microneedle Patches for Psoriasis Treatment: A Dual Approach With Methotrexate-Zinc and Difelikefalin for Enhanced Therapeutic Outcomes.

Xiaolong Xu, Chunhao Long, Yuze Zhou, Lujing Fei, Youyou Zhou, Min Qi

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Xiaolong XuDepartment of Burns and Plastic Surgery Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China.
Chunhao LongDepartment of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
Yuze ZhouDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Lujing FeiDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Youyou ZhouDepartment of Dermatology, Shenzhen People's Hospital, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, Shenzhen, China.
Min QiDepartment of Burns and Plastic Surgery Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9647-0820

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82202851Shenzhen Medical Research Fund C2501024Shenzhen Science and Technology Program JCYJ20240813104107011Shenzhen Science and Technology Program JCYJ20250604142421029
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease often accompanied by pruritus and a high risk of secondary infection. To address the limitations of current therapies, we developed a dual-layer microneedle (MN) system that integrates methotrexate-zinc (MTX-Zn) for sustained anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects with difelikefalin (DFK) for rapid antipruritic action. MTX-Zn was successfully synthesized through coordination chemistry and exhibited enhanced stability, preserved antiproliferative activity, and strong antibacterial effects. The GelMA/PVA-based microneedles showed excellent mechanical strength, efficient skin penetration, and distinct spatial drug compartmentalization. In an IMQ-induced psoriasis model, MTX-Zn/DFK MNs markedly improved clinical symptoms, reduced epidermal hyperplasia, restored immune-cell homeostasis, and decreased Th17/Th1-mediated inflammation. DFK-loaded MNs rapidly alleviated pruritus, reduced epidermal nerve-fiber density, and inhibited Schwann cell migration. Transcriptomic analysis further revealed that DFK suppressed Schwann cell EMT pathways. Together, this dual-functional microneedle platform provides a synergistic therapeutic strategy that combines rapid itch relief with long-term anti-psoriatic and antibacterial effects, representing a promising approach for improving psoriasis management.

Indexed as

MethotrexatePsoriasisZincAnimalsHumansMicroneedle Drug DeliveryNeedlesTreatment OutcomeMethotrexateZincdifelikefalinmethotrexate‐zinc complexmicroneedle patchpsoriasistransdermal drug delivery

Identifiers

PMID42216778
PMCPMC13306916

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.