TLDR Minoxidil mixed with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin in water can improve hair growth more than minoxidil alone.
In 2017, researchers developed a water-soluble complex of minoxidil and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-ß-CD) to improve hair growth treatment. The complex was confirmed to be water-soluble and was tested on rats. Both the complex and minoxidil alone significantly promoted hair growth by day 14, but the complex had a slightly higher effect, suggesting it targeted more drug to the hair follicles. The study concluded that replacing the organic solvent in minoxidil topical solution with water is feasible and that using HP-B-CD to formulate an aqueous minoxidil solution warrants further investigation.
Cited in this study
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March 2017 in “Journal of inclusion phenomena and macrocyclic chemistry” Minoxidil mixed with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin in water can improve hair growth more than minoxidil alone.
