Bioprinting of Hair Follicle Germs for Hair Regenerative Medicine

The study "Bioprinting of hair follicle germs for hair regenerative medicine" presents a novel method for hair regeneration using bioprinting technology. Researchers created Hair Microgels (HMGs) by placing two collagen droplets, each containing mesenchymal and epithelial cells, adjacent to each other. After three days of culture, these HMGs were transplanted into the skin of mice, resulting in efficient regeneration of hair follicles and shafts. The study also found that the orientation of the HMGs during transplantation affected hair-inducing efficiency, with certain orientations resulting in 2-3 times higher hair outgrowth efficiency. The researchers also found that six genes related to the Wnt signaling pathway, which is associated with hair follicle development, were significantly upregulated in the HMGs. This suggests that the HMG method could be a promising approach for hair regenerative medicine.