Engineered collagen XVII-loaded dissolving microneedle patch for promoting hair regrowth in androgenic alopecia.
Summary
This preclinical study implicates collagen XVII downregulation in an androgenic alopecia-like mouse model and engineers a dissolving microneedle patch to deliver a recombinant COL17 fragment. The platform targets follicular morphology, proliferation, and angiogenesis deficits that accompany AGA, aiming to improve transdermal delivery and adherence compared with current therapies.
Key Findings
- Collagen XVII is significantly downregulated in a testosterone-induced AGA-like mouse model.
- Downregulation correlates with abnormal hair follicle morphology, reduced proliferation, and impaired angiogenesis.
- A recombinant human COL17 fragment (800–1300 aa) was engineered and paired with a dissolving microneedle delivery approach to promote hair regrowth.
Clinical Implications
If validated in humans, a COL17-loaded dissolving microneedle could complement or offer an alternative to minoxidil/finasteride, improving adherence and localized delivery while reducing systemic exposure.
Why It Matters
It introduces a mechanistically targeted, patient-friendly transdermal therapy concept for AGA, a high-prevalence aesthetic condition with limited options. The microneedle strategy could generalize to other hair disorders.
Limitations
- Preclinical model; no human efficacy or safety data reported
- Quantitative outcomes and long-term safety are not detailed in the abstract
Future Directions
Conduct dose-ranging and safety studies in large animals, followed by early-phase human trials assessing scalp delivery kinetics, hair regrowth endpoints, and safety versus standard therapies.
Study Information
- Study Type
- Basic/mechanistic research
- Research Domain
- Pathophysiology/Treatment
- Evidence Level
- V - Preclinical experimental evidence without human clinical data
- Study Design
- OTHER