An Efficient, Non-Invasive Approach for In Vivo Sampling of Hair Follicles: Design and Applications in Monitoring DNA Damage and Aging

Researchers have developed a non-invasive method for sampling hair follicles, which aligns with the 3 Rs principle to replace, reduce, and refine animal models in biomedical research. This method uses a convenient device to collect hair follicles, avoiding the need for painful biopsies. Hair follicles, containing live epithelial cells, are relevant for studying aging-related pathologies, including cancer. The method was successfully used to obtain mouse hair follicular cells for genotyping, quantitative PCR, and immunofluorescence, demonstrating its utility in monitoring DNA damage and aging. Pilot studies also translated these findings to human hair follicles irradiated ex vivo, showcasing the method's potential for both research and routine applications with significant ethical and logistical benefits.