Targeted Transfollicular Delivery of Artocarpin Extract from Artocarpus Incisus by Means of Microparticles

The study from 2007 explored the use of alginate/chitosan (ACS) microparticles for targeted delivery of artocarpin (Ar), a compound with potential for treating androgen-dependent disorders such as male pattern alopecia and acne. The researchers developed ACS microparticles that successfully encapsulated Ar with an 18.7% entrapment efficiency and released only 0.7% of Ar over 6 hours, indicating their potential for sustained release. In an in vivo experiment with 51 hamsters, the topical application of ACS-Ar microparticles suppressed the growth of hamster flank organs, an effect comparable to a tenfold higher dose of Ar in solution form, but without significant systemic action. This suggested that ACS-Ar microparticles could be an effective and safer alternative for treating conditions like androgenic alopecia with minimal systemic effects.