In Vitro Hair Follicle Growth Model for Drug Testing

The study developed a new in vitro model for testing hair growth drugs using human fetal or adult epithelial and mesenchymal cells to create hair follicle models. The researchers found that adult cells, when combined in a specific way, provided the best condition for hair growth. The model was used to test Minoxidil, which significantly increased hair growth and the expression of hair growth-associated genes. The model was also tested with cells from a patient with androgenetic alopecia, demonstrating its potential for use in drug testing for hair loss disorders. However, the study did not result in the formation of mature hair follicles, suggesting the need for further improvement. This approach could be a promising drug testing platform for treating hair loss disorders and could lead to advancements in hair regenerative medicine.