CFH protein-loaded ice microneedles

CFH protein-loaded ice microneedles is an investigational drug-device combination consisting of a recombinant human Complement Factor H (CFH) protein fragment (residues 860-1231) encapsulated within a meltable ice microneedle platform. Developed by West China Hospital of Sichuan University, it is designed for intradermal delivery to prevent radiation-induced skin fibrosis (RISF) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) receiving postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy. Complement Factor H is a critical regulatory protein of the alternative complement pathway; by delivering it directly into the skin, the therapy aims to inhibit complement-mediated inflammatory and fibrotic signaling cascades triggered by radiotherapy. The ice microneedle technology allows for the stable encapsulation of the protein in a frozen state and minimally invasive delivery as the needles melt upon contact with skin temperature, releasing the active biologic fragment into the dermal layer.