Hafnium Oxide Nanostructure-Integrated Silk Fibroin Microneedles Reshape Cutaneous Melanocyte Microenvironment for Vitiligo Therapy

The study presents a novel treatment for vitiligo using silk fibroin/poly(vinyl alcohol) microneedles integrated with α-aminoxyacetate-loaded hafnium oxide nanoparticles (AH-MNs). This approach targets the melanocyte microenvironment by protecting cells from reactive oxygen species and modulating the immune response. The microneedles effectively deliver nanoparticles transdermally, enhancing melanogenesis, hair follicle activation, and skin repigmentation. Tissue analyses showed a reduction in autoreactive CD8⁺ T cells and an increase in regulatory T cells, indicating a promising minimally invasive therapy for vitiligo.