Hair Organ Regeneration Via Bioengineered Hair Follicular Unit Transplantation
May 2012
in “
Scientific Reports
”
bioengineered hair follicular unit transplantation embryonic skin-derived cells bioengineered hair follicle germs hair cycles host skin epithelium arrector pili muscle stem cells hair cycling growth and regression phases alopecia in vitro culture systems hair regenerative therapies hair follicle transplantation hair follicle germs skin epithelium hair growth phases hair loss lab culture systems hair regeneration
TLDR Scientists successfully created and transplanted bioengineered hair follicles that function like natural ones, suggesting a new treatment for hair loss.
The study from May 28, 2012, explored the regeneration of hair follicles through bioengineered hair follicular unit transplantation. Researchers used embryonic skin-derived cells to create bioengineered hair follicle germs, which, when transplanted into mice, developed into histologically correct hair follicles that could undergo proper hair cycles and connect with host skin epithelium, nerves, and the arrector pili muscle. The bioengineered hair follicles were able to maintain stem cells for sustained hair cycling and exhibited growth and regression phases similar to natural follicles. This research suggests that bioengineered hair follicles could potentially serve as a new treatment for alopecia, replacing traditional hair restoration methods. The study was conducted in accordance with ethical guidelines and indicates that further development of in vitro culture systems could enhance clinical applications of hair regenerative therapies.
