Scaffold-Assisted Artificial Hair Implantation in a Rat Model

May 2018 in “ JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery ”

Joshua K. Au, Miguel F. Diaz, Tara Aghaloo, Maie A. St. John

PHDPE ePTFE artificial hair implantation fibrovascular integration chronic inflammation biocompatibility histological bias polyhexamethylene dodecanediamide expanded polytetrafluoroethylene

TLDR Artificial hair implantation using scaffolds is possible and PHDPE is more biocompatible than ePTFE.

The 2018 study explored the use of PHDPE and ePTFE scaffolds for artificial hair implantation in 34 Sprague Dawley rats. It found that 94% of scaffolds healed well and 86% of artificial hair follicular units remained intact, with no significant difference in survival between the two scaffold materials or hair presence. PHDPE scaffolds showed greater fibrovascular integration than ePTFE. While scaffolds with hair had more chronic inflammation, this did not significantly impact scaffold survival. The study concluded that scaffold-assisted artificial hair implantation is viable, with PHDPE being more biocompatible, and that delayed implantation does not increase adverse effects. However, the study recognized limitations such as potential histological bias and suggested future research to reduce inflammation and infection.

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