Dissolvable Microneedle Arrays Loaded with SCH772984 Targeting the MAPK/ERK Pathway to Inhibit Abnormal Vascular Proliferation in Hypertrophic Scars

Background: pathological angiogenesis is a critical driver of hypertrophic scar (HS) formation, a common fibrotic skin disorder with limited therapeutic options. However, the precise molecular pathways governing scar-associated neovascularization remain incompletely understood. This study aims to develop a biomaterial-based targeted delivery system to inhibit angiogenesis-driven HS progression. Methods: An in vitro scar angiogenesis model was established by culturing human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with HS fibroblast-conditioned medium (HSCM). Transcriptomic analysis was performed using RNA sequencing, followed by KEGG pathway analysis. The effects of the ERK inhibitor SCH772984 and of targeted MAP2K1 knockdown on HUVECs proliferation were assessed. For in vivo validation, a dissolvable microneedle arrays (DMNAs) made from methacrylate hyaluronic acid (HAMA) was loaded with SCH772984 and applied to a rabbit ear model of HS. Statistical analyses were conducted using Student’s t -test and one-way ANOVA, with P < 0.05 considered significant. Results: Transcriptomic analysis of the in vitro model revealed significant upregulation of the MAPK, mTOR, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. Pharmacological inhibition of ERK with SCH772984 suppressed endothelial cell proliferation. Mechanistically, this effect was phenocopied by targeted knockdown of MAP2K1, confirming the central role of the MAP2K1/ERK signaling axis in promoting scar angiogenesis. In the rabbit ear model, treatment with SCH772984-loaded DMNAs significantly reduced the scar elevation index (SEI) and downregulated markers of both myofibroblast activation and neovascularization compared to control groups. Conclusions: This study highlights the critical role of the MAP2K1/ERK pathway in mediating HS angiogenesis. Furthermore, the SCH772984-loaded DMNA platform described here is a promising and minimally invasive transdermal therapeutic approach for the clinical management of HS.