Plant Nanovesicles Integrate Bioactivity and Transdermal Finasteride Delivery for Androgenetic Alopecia

This study introduces biomimetic nanovesicles derived from the medicinal herb Platycladi cacumen (PcNs) as carriers for transdermal delivery of finasteride (FIN) to treat androgenetic alopecia (AGA). These nanovesicles enhance skin permeation and local drug retention, reducing oxidative stress and promoting drug accumulation in the skin layers. In a testosterone-induced AGA mouse model, FIN-loaded PcNs effectively reversed hair follicle miniaturization and stimulated hair regeneration, outperforming minoxidil in promoting hair regrowth. The PcNs work by scavenging reactive oxygen species, modulating inflammatory pathways, and upregulating genes related to hair follicle regeneration. This approach offers a promising, safe, and effective strategy for AGA treatment, highlighting the potential of plant-derived nanocarriers in dermatology.