MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE
·
2025
·
IF 4.1
Xueyang Wang,Xiaojie Ju,Chunyan He
The local application of minoxidil tincture has been widely used clinically for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA). However, there are significant limitations, including ineffectiveness on its own, poor patient compliance, and low transdermal absorption. Microneedles (MNs) can puncture the stratum corneum painlessly and increase drug absorption through the skin. Additionally, nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to improve blood supply to hair follicles and reduce inflammation. Therefore, we prepared a kind of hair-growth-promoting MNs that can co-deliver minoxidil and NO donor for AGA treatment. In simple terms, nanogels (MHMA) were formed through the photopolymerization of methacrylate hyaluronic acid (MeHA) and methacrylate arginine (MeArg) as an NO donor. Through optimized formulation design, minoxidil was efficiently encapsulated within the MHMA nanogels with a particle size of 522.9 nm, which facilitates targeting of hair follicles. Subsequently, the MNs were prepared using a micro-molding method. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the hair-growth-promoting MNs could efficiently deliver minoxidil and NO donor by just 3 min pressing on the mouse skin. It effectively promoted the transition of hair follicles to the growth phase and stimulated angiogenesis around the follicles, ultimately leading to hair regeneration in the alopecia mouse model. Overall, the proposed hair growth hair-growth-promoting MNs can efficiently and painlessly deliver minoxidil and NO donor into the skin, thus offering a promising new direction for clinical AGA treatment.
研究领域:
药剂学
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皮肤科
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纳米技术
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药物递送
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生物医学工程
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF DRUG DELIVERY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
·
2023
·
IF 5
Ying Sun,Yongxiang Zhang,Xiaxia Liu,Yan Tingting,Liyan Shen,Dan Ye,Xia Kong,Yonghui Su,Qingping Tian
Transfersomes is one of the most effective nanotechnology-based formulation for transdermal delivery of minoxidil (MXD), however the potential use was limited by its low drug content ( DC ) and entrapment efficiency ( EE ). In this study, efforts have been made to improve DC and EE of MXD in transfersomes for effective topical treatment of alopecia . By dissolving both MXD and edge activator (Tween 80) in aqueous phase than either or both of them co-dissolving in organic solvent with lipids (phospholipid and cholesterol with mass ratio of 5:1), the DC and EE of MXD transfersomes prepared by thin film hydration method were significantly increased. The optimized transfersomes (MT) and its gel (MT gel ) with mass ratio of drug, Tween 80 and lipids 3:1:18 have a spherical morphology without aggregation, and a particle size of not more than 100 nm. The differential scanning calorimetry measurements revealed that the drug in MT was in the non-crystalline state. MT and MT gel exhibited better in vitro transdermal penetration ability and hair of C57BL/6 mice growth-promoting capacity than commercial formulations. MT gel has non-irritation and is better than MT in skin adhesion, stability, potential for skin storage and hair growth promotion ability, which could endow it to be a promising strategy for topical treatment of alopecia.
研究领域:
药剂学
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纳米技术
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皮肤科学
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产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
LANGMUIR
·
2024
·
IF 3.7
Wenzuo Luo,Xingui Zhang,Yingying Chu,Tiantian Chen,Huixuan Sun,Jiadong Liu,Guoxing Zhang,Lihong Fan,Haixing Xu,Yue Zhang,Ming Yang
Although finasteride (FNS) tablets are considered the most effective drug for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA), their clinical applications are limited due to the associated side effects including decreased libido, breast enlargement, and liver dysfunction. In this study, we have developed a personalized microneedle (PMN) with a double-layer structure that incorporates FNS-loaded microspheres (MPs) to accommodate irregular skin surfaces. This design enables the sustained release of FNS, thereby reducing potential side effects. The needle body was synthesized with high-strength hyaluronic acid (HA) as the base material substrate. The backing layer utilized methacrylate gelatin (GelMA) with specific toughness, enabling PMN to penetrate the skin while adapting to various skin environments. The length of PMN needles (10 × 10) was approximately 600 μm, with the bottom of the needles measuring about 330 μm × 330 μm. The distance between adjacent tips was around 600 μm, allowing the drug to penetrate the stratum corneum of the skin. The results of the drug release investigation indicated the sustained and regulated release of FNS from PMN, as compared to that of pure FNS and FNS-MPs. Further, the cytotoxicity assay demonstrates that PMS displays good cytocompatibility. Altogether, this mode of administration has immense potential for the development of delivery of other drugs, as well as in the medical field.
CAS / MDL:
研究领域:
药剂学
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皮肤科学
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生物材料学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials
·
2025
·Vol. 8
·期 2
·1-17
·
IF 21.8
Mbituyimana Bricard,Fu Lina,Wang Hao,Qi Fuyu,Jiang Yuchi,Meng Fanbo,Wu Min,Shi Zhijun,Yang Guang
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common type of hair loss frequently observed in clinics. Right now, there are no effective treatments for AGA. Here, we developed a biodegradable microneedle (MN) patch made of polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) loaded with glutamic acid (GA) that improves sustainable drug release and effective hair regeneration treatment. Once the patch has penetrated the skin, the GA-loaded MNs (GA-MNs) are quickly separated from their base and enter the skin. These MNs then serve as drug storage tanks inside the skin, releasing the therapeutics gradually for over 4 weeks. The sustained release of GA from long-acting biodegradable needles could lead to endocytosis by dermal papilla cells (DPCs), promoting the proliferation of cells. Compared with topical minoxidil, which requires daily treatment, animal studies have shown that GA-MNs can increase hair regeneration more effectively with lower dose frequency; the number of hair follicles in the GA-MNs group reached 83.68 ± 4.52%, which was significantly higher than that of the minoxidil group (56.93 ± 3.21%). This transdermal technology of biodegradable MNs shows considerable promise in clinical applications and offers a straightforward, safe, and effective therapy approach for clinical hair regeneration treatment.
研究领域:
生物医学工程
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皮肤病学
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药物递送系统
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
Journal of Materials Chemistry B
·
2025
·
IF 5.7
Yudie Lv,Yang Yang,Jiaxin Niu,Xu Sun,Han Zhang,Xiangdong Kong
Oxidative stress is closely linked to androgenetic alopecia (AGA). However, research on antioxidants specifically targeting hair follicle tissue has been limited. The utilization of nanomaterials that possess superior reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging capabilities and biocompatibility is a promising approach for the treatment of AGA. The microneedle-mediated transdermal delivery system can overcome the limitations of the stratum corneum and effectively deliver functional nanomaterials to the vicinity of hair follicles. In this study, we report a degradable microneedle patch loaded with ROS-scavenging CuxO nanozyme (CuxO-MNs) for targeted treatment of AGA. Tiny CuxO nanozymes were synthesized using a robust and eco-friendly method, demonstrating effective ROS-scavenging ability at both in vitro and cellular levels. With the penetration and dissolution of sodium hyaluronate microneedles, CuxO can be rapidly released and effectively reach the area around the hair follicle, enabling targeted removal of ROS. In the AGA model, CuxO-MNs effectively alleviate oxidative stress, restore the hair follicle microenvironment, and stimulate the transition of hair follicles from the telogen to the anagen. These combined effects significantly enhance hair regeneration and exhibit therapeutic efficacy comparable to the clinical drug minoxidil, suggesting the safety and translational potential of this strategy for AGA treatment.
研究领域:
生物医学工程
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皮肤病学
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纳米技术
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药剂学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY
·
2025
·Vol. 23
·期 1
·1-20
·
IF 12.6
Xiong Sha,Li Zhongjun,Jiao Siwen,Xiao Ting,Wu Yan,Chen Chen,Guo Shiqi,Li Xiaojuan,Pan Zhiyuan,Li Jianqing,Xu Yuehong
Background Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), a chronic and progressive disease, significantly impacts the patients’ social, emotional, and mental well-being. Current treatment for AGA are mainly limited by drug side effects and the stratum corneum (SC) barrier of scalp. Results To address these issues, we developed a microneedle (MN) system loaded with black phosphorus nanosheets (BP) encapsulating baicalin (BA), a natural ingredient, for effective treatment of AGA. We first fabricated BP-BA based on the BP properties of high drug loading capacity and excellent photothermal conversion efficiency. Upon 635 nm laser irradiation, BP-BA demonstrated efficient photothermal conversion to mild thermal of ~ 42 °C. This mild thermal effect controlled BA’s stimuli-responsive release, enhanced cellular uptake, and effectively modulated gene expression in dihydrotestosterone-treated human dermal papilla cells, downregulating negative regulators such as SRD5A2, AR, DKK1, and TGFB1, while upregulating positive regulators like CTNNBIP1 and VEGFA. Furthermore, we encapsulated BP-BA to MN fabricating BP-BA@MNs to overcome the SC barrier. Compared with BP-BA@MNs without laser irradiation, BP-BA@MNs with laser irradiation significantly enhanced drug penetration into the subcutaneous area and accumulation at the follicular site. Importantly, BP-BA@MNs demonstrated synergistic efficacy against testosterone-induced AGA in vivo through combining BA chemotherapy, BP-mediated mild photothermal therapy, and MN delivery, as well as good biocompatibility and biosafety, and the underlying synergistic mechanism was elucidated in terms of follicular microenvironment reconstruction. Conclusions This combining BP mild photothermal and MN system is a promising approach for follicular targeted drug delivery, providing a multifunctional strategy for addressing the clinical needs of anti-AGA. Graphical
研究领域:
药剂学
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皮肤病学
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生物医学工程
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
LIFE SCIENCES
·
2020
·
IF 3.647
Zhuo Wang,Weixiao Nan,Huazhe Si,Shiyong Wang,Haihua Zhang,Guangyu Li
Aims Pantothenic acid (PA) has been applied to treat alopecia, but the underlying mechanism is still unclear. Our study aims to explore the underlying mechanism of PA in regulating hair follicle (HF) growth. Main methods Mink HFs and dermal papilla (DP) cells were isolated and cultured in vitro . HFs and DP cells were treated with 0, 10, 20, 40 μg/ml PA. The effect of PA on HF growth, DP cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, cell migration, and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expressions in DP cells was measured. Moreover, the effect of PA on inhibitor of DNA binding 3 (ID3)/Notch signaling pathway was analyzed. Subsequently, ID3 was silenced to validate whether ID3/Notch signaling pathway was involved in regulating DP cell proliferation by PA. Key findings Both 20 μg/ml and 40 μg/ml PA promoted HF growth, G1/S transition of DP cells and IGF-1 and VEGF expressions in DP cells, while only 20 μg/ml PA promoted cell viability and the migration of DP cells. Thus 20 μg/ml PA was chosen for the following experiments. PA treatment was found to up-regulate ID3 expression but down-regulate Notch receptor 1 (Notch1) and Notch signaling targets expressions. Furthermore, ID3 knockdown reversed PA-induced cell proliferation and inhibition of Notch1 and Notch signaling targets expressions, indicating that PA-induced DP cell proliferation and inhibition of Notch signaling were mediated via up-regulation of ID3. Significance This study provides an underlying mechanism related to the effect of PA on stimulating DP cell proliferation.
研究领域:
皮肤科
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分子生物学
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细胞生物学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Drug Delivery and Translational Research
·
2025
·
IF 5.5
Zhang Min,Pang Xiaoya,Kang Shuhui,Sui Hao,Kong Xia,Wang Gang,Wang Ruixuan,Shen Guiqing,Tian Qingping
Our MXD/SCD@TF designed by the combination of transfersome and inclusion technology was obviously superior to commercial 2% MXD tincture in treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in mice, but its complex preparation and poor stability undoubtedly increased both development and usage costs. In this paper, using our previous alcohol-free low surfactant microemulsion technology with VES as auxiliary oil phase, microemulsions loaded with the inclusion complex of MXD and sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBE-β-CD) were prepared, optimized and characterized, and the therapeutic effect on AGA C57BL/6 mice was compared with MXD/SCD@TF. According to the ternary phase diagram, steady-state permeation rate of MXD through SD rat skin and drug retention, MXD/SCD@ME was selected as the optimal prescription, composed of 5.25% oil phase, 9.75% surfactants, 10.20% SBE-β-CD, 1.02% MXD and 73.78% water, which conformed to the characteristics of microemulsion. MXD/SCD@ME had good stability, and the application of inclusion technology increased the MXD loading in microemulsion to nearly 5 times. The results of in vivo skin penetration test and laser confocal scanning visualization showed that MXD/SCD@ME was easier to deliver drugs to deeper skin tissues than MXD/SCD@TF. Hair regeneration study demonstrated that MXD/SCD@ME had higher ability than MXD/SCD@TF in promoting hair growth, prolonging hair growth period, reducing ROS level and promoting cell proliferation of hair follicles. In addition, the blank microemulsion of MXD/SCD@ME had certain therapeutic effect on AGA, indicating the synergistic effect between VES and MXD. All these indicated that MXD/SCD@ME is expected to provide a better choice for pharmacological therapy of MXD on AGA than MXD/SCD@TF. Graphical
研究领域:
药剂学
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皮肤科学
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生物医学工程
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
·
2025
·
IF 11.5
Shuili Jing,Yonghao Liu,Ben Wang,Heng Zhou,Hui Zhang,Prakriti Siwakoti,Xiangyu Qu,Peng Ye,Yan He,Tushar Kumeria,Qingsong Ye
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common type of hair loss, and there is a lack of ideal treatment options. The damage and shedding of hair follicles are closely associated with niche dysregulation, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, microvascular damage, and persistent inflammation. In this study, a biocomposite microneedle system comprising hypoxic extracellular vesicle (EV)-encapsulated selenium nanozyme (Se-HEVs-AMN) was designed to create a favorable perifollicular microenvironment. The novel Se-HEVs-AMN biocomposite patch features microneedles with sufficient mechanical strength, tailored dissolution properties, and a convenient detachable backing layer. The microneedles are modified with Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) and loaded with hypoxia-induced EVs containing selenium nanozyme. When applied to the dorsal skin of AGA mice, the microneedles rapidly dissolve, releasing active ingredients that increase hair density and enlarge hair follicle diameter through regulating inflammation, promoting angiogenesis, scavenging ROS, and resisting androgen.
研究领域:
生物医学工程
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皮肤病学
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纳米医学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Bioactive Materials
·
2023
·
IF 18.9
Hui Xing,Huanqi Peng,Yuhui Yang,Kai Lv,Shihao Zhou,Xiangjun Pan,Jianjin Wang,Yunfeng Hu,Guowei Li,Dong Ma
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common clinical condition, affecting over 200 million people globally each year. For decades, Minoxidil (Mi) tincture has been the primary treatment for this disease, but its low utilization rate and significant side effects necessitate new therapeutic strategies. Nitric oxide (NO) is a signaling molecule in various physiological processes, including vasodilation, immune responses, and cell proliferation. Herein, we constructed a hyaluronic acid liposome (HL) complex as a novel transdermal delivery system (HL@Mi/NONOate) for NO and Mi, which displayed promising transdermal and hair-regrowth effects. In-depth mechanistic studies revealed three potential pathways of the synergistic AGA therapy. First, NO promoted capillary dilation and accelerated blood flow, thus achieving efficient penetration of Mi. Due to the structural advantage of liposomes, the residence time of the Mi in the skin was prolonged. Moreover, HL@Mi/NONOate promoted cell proliferation and angiogenesis, and upregulated the expression of regulatory factors involved in follicle stem cell differentiation. In the AGA model, HL@Mi/NONOate down-regulated the expression of inflammatory factors, inhibiting the inflammation of follicle and improving the microenvironment of hair regrowth. Concurrently, HL@Mi/NONOate upregulated the expression of Ki67 and PCNA proteins in follicle tissues, inducing follicle regeneration and development, ultimately achieving the synergistic multimodal AGA therapy.
研究领域:
药学
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皮肤科学
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生物医学工程
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
·
2025
·
IF 5.2
Ziyi Liu,Xiaojuan Li,Sha Xiong,Ting Xiao,Siwen Jiao,Guihong Chai,Yuehong Xu
Androgenic alopecia (AGA), the most prevalent type of progressive hair loss, currently lacks an effective topical treatment regimen. In this study, we synthesized an ionic liquid (IL) to co-solubilize minoxidil (MXD) and finasteride (FIN) and subsequently formulated them into an in situ thermosensitive ionic liquid/cyclodextrin/poloxamer hydrogel (ICPG), termed M + F@ICPG. M + F@ICPG was developed for the transdermal co-delivery of these two drugs, aiming to provide a multipath therapeutic approach for AGA while avoiding the adverse effects commonly associated with oral FIN and topical MXD tincture. The thermosensitive characteristics, skin penetration, hair follicle (HF) targeting efficiency, biosafety, and in vivo therapeutic efficacy of M + F@ICPG were evaluated using an AGA mouse model. Our results demonstrated that M + F@ICPG was a thermosensitive hydrogel, transitioning from solution to gel upon contact with the scalp. Compared to the FIN suspension and MXD tincture, M + F@ICPG significantly enhanced the skin penetration (∼2.2-fold) and retention (∼8.6-fold) of FIN and increased the relative retention of MXD (∼6.3-fold) in the skin. Moreover, M + F@ICPG exhibited a HF targeting index of 1.74 for MXD and 1.46 for FIN, indicating enhanced drug targeting to HF. M + F@ICPG showed superior in vivo efficacy in terms of hair regeneration, anagen recovery, inflammation mitigation, and microvessel reconstruction. The underlying mechanism was attributed to the upregulation of hair growth genes, downregulation of hair loss genes, and reduction of abnormally elevated inflammatory factors. These findings suggest that this novel M + F@ICPG is a promising topical co-delivery system for the synergistic treatment of AGA.
研究领域:
药剂学
·
皮肤科学
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生物医学工程
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Stem Cell Research & Therapy
·
2025
·Vol. 16
·期 1
·1-20
·
IF 7.3
Liu Yonghao,Zhou Heng,Pang Pengcheng,Liu Ye,Situ Jieying,Wang Junnan,He Yan,Ye Qingsong
Background Mesenchymal stem cell exosomes are the most extensively researched type of Extracellular vesicles (EVs) that offer novel avenues for hair regeneration. However, their use in the field of hair regeneration was limited by their poor production of exosomes. It has been discovered that intracellular vesicles (IVs), which are produced at a higher rate than exosomes, play a comparable biological purpose. As a result, we developed HTMI-MN, a microneedle that uses tremella, a type of Tremella polysaccharide (TPS), and hyaluronic acid (HA) as matrix materials. It has magnetic intracellular vesicles (Mag-IVs), which work in concert to treat androgenic alopecia (AGA) and encourage hair growth.Methods After characterization of the Mag-IVs, we evaluated the effect on angiogenesis by scratch assay, angiogenesis assay, Western Blot and ELISA assay. In addition, we tested the protective effect of Human hair papillary cells (HHDPCs) by CCK-8 method, Western Blot and flow cytometry. Finally, the effects of tremella polysaccharide on M1/M2 polarization of macrophages were detected by fluorescence staining, Western Blot and flow cytometry. AGA model was established in vivo by DHT, and treatment was given by microneedle injection.Results Our study found that Mag-IVs have greater power to promote angiogenesis and protect HHDPCs from apoptosis compared to other vesicles. Besides, tremella polysaccharide can make the transformation of macrophages to anti-inflammatory phenotype. Taken together, in vivo experiments showed that hair regeneration was faster in HTMI-MN-treated mice.Conclusion These results indicate that Mag-IVs and tremella polysaccharide can synergistically improve the hair microenvironment, which has a promising future for AGA treatment.
研究领域:
再生医学
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干细胞研究
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生物材料科学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）