Novel Use of Matrix for Hair Growth

In a study from 2010, researchers presented a novel method for de novo hair growth using a matrix to grow hair and sebaceous glands from a suspension of single cells. Multipotential cells from neonatal mice were loaded onto a pre-shaped, pre-treated matrix and grafted onto a full-thickness wound on the dorsum of a nude mouse. Results showed that hair growth was visible as early as 11 days post-operation, with over 40 athymic nude mice successfully growing new hair in an organized fashion, with a success rate of over 92%. Immunohistochemical studies confirmed the normal structure of the new hairs. The study followed 6 mice for over a year, observing normal hair cycling and regeneration. The conclusion was that this technique could potentially be used for treating specific regions of alopecia, with the possibility of using stem cells organized by a shaped matrix for future hair restoration, eliminating the need for autotransplantation.