A Novel 3D Printed Model of Infected Human Hair Follicles to Demonstrate Targeted Delivery of Nanoantibiotics
July 2024
in “
ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering
”
3D printed model human hair follicles antibiotic nanocarriers follicular infections collagen matrix 3D printed scaffold fluorescent nanoparticles rifampicin-loaded lipid nanocapsules free rifampicin nanoencapsulated form bacterial reduction follicle microenvironment nanocarriers targeted therapy 3D model hair follicles antibiotic carriers infections collagen scaffold nanoparticles rifampicin capsules rifampicin encapsulated antibiotics bacteria reduction microenvironment carriers targeted treatment
TLDR Nanoencapsulated antibiotics are more effective in treating hair follicle infections than free antibiotics.
This study introduces a 3D in vitro organ culture system using human hair follicles to test the effectiveness of antibiotic nanocarriers in treating follicular infections. The model replicates the hair follicle's microenvironment by transplanting living follicles into a collagen matrix within a 3D printed scaffold. Results showed that fluorescent nanoparticles could penetrate the follicle, unlike in floating cultures. Rifampicin-loaded lipid nanocapsules were as effective as free rifampicin in floating cultures, but only the nanoencapsulated form achieved significant bacterial reduction in the 3D model. This highlights the importance of the follicle microenvironment in antibiotic treatment and supports the use of nanocarriers for targeted therapy.
