Melanocytes from the Outer Root Sheath of Hair Follicles Cultivated on Collagen Membrane Improve Their Melanotic Properties

The study explored a non-invasive method for cultivating melanocytes from the outer root sheath of human hair follicles for transplantation, aimed at treating depigmentation disorders like Vitiligo. Researchers tested decellularized bovine collagen type I scaffold membranes as a carrier for these melanocytes. The findings indicated that the collagen I membranes provided a supportive environment, enhancing the release, migration, and proliferation of melanocytes, resulting in a higher yield and improved melanotic properties compared to traditional two-dimensional cultures. This suggested that collagen I membranes could be an effective biocompatible carrier for melanocyte transplantation in clinical applications.