Hair Follicles, Their Disorders, and Their Opportunities

May 2008 in “ Drug Discovery Today: Disease Mechanisms ”

Alexa Patzelt, Fanny Knorr, Ulrike Blume‐Peytavi, Wolfram Sterry, Jürgen Lademann

hair follicles drug delivery hair disorders skin disorders follicular penetration selective blocking differential stripping in vitro in vivo infundibulum sebaceous glands bulge region stem cells follicular papilla matrix cells gene therapy immunotherapy hair loss skin diseases

TLDR Hair follicles offer promising targets for delivering drugs to treat hair and skin conditions.

The 2008 document examined the potential of hair follicles as targets for drug delivery, focusing on their role in treating hair and skin disorders. It detailed methods for studying follicular penetration, such as selective blocking and differential stripping, and noted the discrepancy between in vitro and in vivo follicular reservoirs. The study identified key targets within the hair follicle for drug delivery, including the infundibulum, sebaceous glands, bulge region with stem cells, and the follicular papilla and matrix cells. These targets are relevant for therapies addressing hair loss, skin diseases, gene therapy, and immunotherapy. The document concluded by emphasizing the hair follicle's complexity and the promising opportunities for targeted drug delivery within its specific compartments.

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Research cited in this study

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