Enhanced Therapeutic Effects of All-Trans Retinoic Acid Nanostructured Lipid Carrier Composite Gel Drug Delivery System for Alopecia Areata

May 2025 in “ Journal of Nanobiotechnology ”

Lingling Zheng, Yang Du, Lulu Zhang, Feihong Jin, Wangting Li, Xuan Zhou, Yanping Yin, Yan Weng, Dong Xu, Jingwen Wang

all-trans retinoic acid nanostructured lipid carrier alopecia areata ATRA-NLC-Gel transdermal permeability hair follicles CD200 Ki-67 Wnt/β-catenin pathway follicular immune homeostasis hair regrowth ATRA NLC AA

Studysummary This study reported that an ATRA-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier gel (ATRA-NLC-Gel) improved symptoms of alopecia areata in mice by enhancing transdermal drug delivery, reducing skin irritation, and promoting hair regrowth through targeted follicle enrichment and pathway activation.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The study explores the use of an all-trans retinoic acid-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier gel (ATRA-NLC-Gel) for treating alopecia areata (AA), demonstrating improved therapeutic effects over traditional ATRA cream. The ATRA-NLC-Gel enhances transdermal permeability, targets hair follicles more effectively, reduces skin irritation, and allows for a slow, sustained release of ATRA. In AA model mice, the gel improved symptoms by upregulating CD200 and Ki-67 expression and activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, leading to restored follicular immune homeostasis and enhanced hair regrowth. The study concludes that ATRA-NLC-Gel is a promising strategy for AA treatment in clinical settings.

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