Cocktail Cell-Reprogrammed Hydrogel Microspheres Achieving Scarless Hair Follicle Regeneration

The study presents a new method for skin wound repair and hair follicle regeneration using Adhesive Hair Follicle Seed (AHFS) microspheres. These microspheres, developed with a chemical cocktail of FDA-approved drugs Tideglusib and Tamibarotene, can convert human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) into dermal papilla cells (DPC), which are essential for hair growth. The AHFS microspheres activate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, promoting wound healing and hair follicle regeneration while inhibiting scar formation. The study also found that AHFS-treated cells can facilitate epidermal keratinocyte mitosis and proliferation, and activate hair regeneration-related genes. In vivo, AHFS accelerated wound healing and facilitated hair follicle regeneration without scarring. This approach could provide a new perspective in the biomaterial design for scarless wound healing and functional skin repair.