Large-Scale Preparation of Hair Follicle Germs Using a Microfluidic Device
January 2024
in “ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering”
TLDR A new method using a microfluidic device can prepare hair follicle germs efficiently for potential use in hair loss treatments.
The study "Large-Scale Preparation of Hair Follicle Germs Using a Microfluidic Device" presents a new method for preparing hair follicle germs (HFGs) using a microfluidic device. The device created collagen-enriched HFGs in a scalable, one-step, shape-controllable manner. The researchers used epithelial and mesenchymal cells from embryonic mouse skin to create Janus-shaped collagen beads, which were then transplanted into mice to evaluate their hair regeneration efficiencies. The hair regeneration ability of these microfluidic hair follicle germs (mfHFGs) was more than twice that of self-sorted hair follicle germs (ssHFGs). The study suggests that this method could be used for large-scale preparation of tissue grafts for hair regenerative medicine, potentially benefiting patients with alopecia. However, for practical use, the cells used should be replaced and optimized with cell sources of human origin.
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