Gellan Gum-Based Hydrogels Support the Recreation of the Dermal Papilla Microenvironment

The study investigated the use of gellan gum-based hydrogels to recreate the dermal papilla (DP) microenvironment, a key factor in hair growth. The researchers found that stiffer hydrogels (1.25% vs 0.75% gellan gum) improved DP cell inductivity in short term cultures and supported basic hair morphogenesis events in a human skin model. The hydrogels were biofunctionalized with collagen IV or fibronectin-related peptides, and the type of peptide and gellan gum amount independently modulated the type and quantity of deposited extracellular matrix proteins. The study concluded that gellan gum-based hydrogels could be a promising tool for hair follicle regeneration and the evaluation of new candidate drugs for hair growth.