Journal: Materials Today Bio
Article Title: Rational design of FAP-targeted sEVs delivered by microneedles for precision treatment of hypertrophic scars via ferroptosis in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts
doi: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2026.103117
Figure Lengend Snippet: In vivo molecular validation of antifibrotic and ferroptosis-related changes. (A) Western blots of COL I, COL III, α-SMA, GPX4, and ACSL4 in scar tissues from NS, HS, Er, sEVs Er , sEVs ErF , sEVs ErF -DMNPs, and TA groups; GAPDH, loading control. (B-D) Densitometric analysis of COL I, COL III, and α-SMA relative to HS. (E, F) Densitometric analysis of GPX4 and ACSL4 relative to HS. (G) Volcano plot of DEGs between HS and sEVs ErF -DMNPs tissues (RNA-seq). (H) KEGG enrichment bubble plot showing fibrosis- and ferroptosis-related pathways. (I) GO enrichment (BP, CC, MF) highlighting ECM remodeling, glycosaminoglycan metabolism, and stress signaling. (J) Heatmap of fibrosis-related genes (e.g., CCN2, COL1A1, FKBP10, TGFBR2, MMP1, MMP3). (K) Heatmap of ferroptosis-related genes, including ACSL4, STEAP3, TFRC, SLC11A2, GPX4, GSS, FTH1, SLC40A1, NFE2L2, GCLM, GCLC, HMOX1, and SLC7A11/xCT, in scar tissues from HS and sEVs ErF -DMNPs groups. Data are mean ± SD; ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001, ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001 vs NS; #p < 0.05, ##p < 0.01, ###p < 0.001, ####p < 0.0001 vs HS.
Article Snippet: HSFs were treated with sEVs ErF (erastin-equivalent concentration: 15 μM) in the presence or absence of Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1, 30 nM; MedChemExpress, USA).
Techniques: In Vivo, Biomarker Discovery, Western Blot, Control, RNA Sequencing