Baricitinib-Loaded Separable Microneedle Array Patch Based on Hyaluronic Acid for Alopecia Areata Therapy

May 2025 in “ Carbohydrate Polymers ”

Da In Jeong, Song Yi Lee, Sungyun Kim, Seong Jin Jo, Haifeng Yang, Jieun You, ChaeRim Hwang, Ji Won Huh, Yeoung Eun Choi, Wonjun Jo, In‐Jeong Choi, Shunro Matsumoto, Seung‐Ki Baek, Woonsung Na, Jung‐Hwan Park, Hyun‐Jong Cho

baricitinib separable microneedle array patch S-MAP hyaluronic acid alopecia areata topical delivery crystalline baricitinib amorphous state microneedle patch AA

From the encyclopedia

Baricitinib →

JAK inhibitor that reduces inflammation and immune attacks on hair follicles, leading to potential hair regrowth, especially in alopecia areata cases

Hyaluronic Acid →

Alopecia Areata →

autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss

Studysummary In this study, researchers developed a dissolvable microneedle patch containing baricitinib for alopecia areata treatment, reporting significantly higher hair growth in mouse models compared to controls, suggesting its potential as an effective, pain-free topical therapy. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The study presents a novel separable microneedle array patch (S-MAP) system for delivering baricitinib topically to treat alopecia areata (AA). This system, primarily composed of hyaluronic acid, aims to avoid the systemic side effects associated with oral baricitinib administration. The S-MAP allows for pain-free application and self-medication, transforming crystalline baricitinib into an amorphous state for complete dissolution within 60 minutes. In mouse models, the S-MAP significantly increased hair growth (82%) compared to the control group (31%). The findings suggest that the baricitinib-loaded S-MAP is an efficient and safe alternative to oral formulations for AA therapy, offering targeted delivery with minimized side effects.

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Research cited in this study

17 / 17 results

research Effect of Minoxidil Combined With Triamcinolone Acetonide on Alopecia Areata by Microneedle Injection

April 2024 in “Skin research and technology”

This study retrospectively observed that combining microneedle minoxidil with triamcinolone acetonide showed clinical efficacy in treating alopecia areata, a condition marked by sudden patchy hair loss.

research Microneedle Delivery Platform Integrated With Codelivery Nanoliposomes for Effective and Safe Androgenetic Alopecia Treatment

March 2024 in “ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces”

This study developed a delivery platform using hyaluronic acid-based dissolvable microneedles with nanoliposomes containing kopexil and kopyrrol, which showed improved hair regeneration for treating androgenetic alopecia in vivo at lower dosages compared to minoxidil.

research Dissolving Microneedles for Alopecia Treatment

4 citations , July 2023 in “Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces”

This study explores novel alopecia treatments targeting lactate dehydrogenase pathways and improving drug delivery through technologies like phototherapy and soluble microneedles, though practical application challenges remain, necessitating further research for clinical use.

research Baricitinib for the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

6 citations , May 2023 in “Drugs”

This study reports that baricitinib was more effective than placebo in promoting hair growth in adults with severe alopecia areata after 36 weeks of treatment in clinical trials.

research Safety of Janus Kinase Inhibitors in Patients with Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review

3 citations , May 2023 in “Clinical drug investigation”

This study reviewed the safety of JAK inhibitors for alopecia areata, finding that common side effects included headache and acne, with varying risks for respiratory infections and no increased risk of serious adverse events.

research Dissolving Microneedle Patch Integrated With Microspheres For Long-Acting Hair Regrowth Therapy

March 2023 in “ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces”

This study reports that a water-soluble microneedle patch with minoxidil-loaded microspheres showed similar or better hair regeneration effects in mice with less frequent application compared to daily topical minoxidil.

research Efficacy and Safety of Baricitinib in Patients with Severe Alopecia Areata Over 52 Weeks in Phase III Trials

20 citations , February 2023 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology”

In this study, 40.9% of patients taking 4 mg baricitinib and 21.2% taking 2 mg achieved significant hair regrowth over 52 weeks, indicating potential long-term benefits for adults with severe alopecia areata without introducing new safety concerns.

research Advances in Microneedles Research Based on Promoting Hair Regrowth

1 citations , December 2022 in “Journal of Controlled Release”

This review summarizes recent research on microneedles for alopecia treatment and hair regrowth, noting their potential to improve drug delivery and patient outcomes, but reports no new clinical results.

research A Combination Therapy for Androgenic Alopecia Based on Quercetin and Zinc/Copper Dual-Doped Mesoporous Silica Nanocomposite Microneedle Patch

1 citations , December 2022 in “Bioactive Materials”

In this study, researchers developed a nanocomposite microneedle patch containing copper/zinc dual-doped silica nanoparticles, which release substances to promote hair follicle regeneration by targeting various pathophysiological aspects of androgenic alopecia, presenting an effective anti-hair loss treatment strategy.

research Dissolving Microneedles: Applications and Growing Therapeutic Potential

61 citations , June 2022 in “Journal of Controlled Release”

This review discusses the advantages, applications, and current trends of dissolving microneedles for drug delivery across various therapeutic areas and reports no new clinical results.

research Minoxidil-Loaded Hyaluronic Acid Dissolving Microneedles to Alleviate Hair Loss in an Alopecia Animal Model

12 citations , February 2022 in “Acta Biomaterialia”

In this study, researchers found that dissolving microneedles made with hyaluronic acid enhanced the effectiveness of minoxidil in reducing hair loss and promoting hair growth in alopecia-affected mice more effectively than topical minoxidil alone, while using only 10% of the drug amount.

research The Role of Janus Kinase Inhibitors in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review

19 citations , August 2019 in “Dermatologic therapy”

This review discusses the use of Janus kinase inhibitors for alopecia areata and reports promising short-term efficacy but low-quality evidence, highlighting the need for further research to confirm long-term safety and effectiveness.

research Role of Janus Kinase Inhibitors in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

53 citations , July 2018 in “Drug design, development and therapy”

This review summarizes existing evidence on the efficacy and safety of JAK inhibitors for treating alopecia areata and emphasizes the need for improved topical formulations.

research Increased Expression of PD-L1 and PD-L2 in Dermal Fibroblasts From Alopecia Areata Mice

13 citations , August 2017 in “Journal of Cellular Physiology”

In this study, researchers found that in mouse models of alopecia areata, the expression of immune-regulating molecules PD-L1 and PD-L2 in dermal fibroblasts is increased by activated T cells, potentially indicating a lack of negative immune control in affected skin.

research Reversal of Alopecia Areata Following Treatment With the JAK1/2 Inhibitor Baricitinib

184 citations , February 2015 in “EBioMedicine”

This study observed that baricitinib treatment led to significant improvement in a patient's alopecia areata symptoms and suggests further clinical trials to explore its potential as a treatment.

research Alopecia Areata Is Driven by Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes and Is Reversed by JAK Inhibition

701 citations , August 2014 in “Nature medicine”

This study found that JAK inhibitors promote hair regrowth in both mice and human alopecia areata cases by blocking key immune pathways involved in disease development.

research Inhibitory Effect of Tianeptine on Catagen Induction in Alopecia Areata-Like Lesions Induced by Ultrasonic Wave Stress in Mice

7 citations , April 2013 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology”

This study found that tianeptine may suppress the transition to catagen, promoting hair growth in a stress-induced alopecia areata mouse model.