55 citations
,
June 2009 in “Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences” This study found that ethanol-containing formulations significantly increased minoxidil retention in the stratum corneum and appendages initially, while a propylene glycol-rich formulation enhanced deeper skin penetration over time.
211 citations
,
February 2009 in “European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics” This review summarizes recent advancements in follicular targeting for drug delivery via hair follicles and calls for pilot studies in humans to explore potential clinical applications.
5 citations
,
November 2008 in “Advances in Dermatology” This review discusses advancements in understanding hair cycle and inflammatory alopecias, proposing a standard classification and tiered treatment recommendations, but reports no clinical results.
48 citations
,
May 2008 in “Drug Discovery Today: Disease Mechanisms” This review discusses recent advancements in understanding hair follicles, their disorders, and potential therapeutic opportunities, but it reports no new clinical findings.
132 citations
,
April 2007 in “European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics” This study found that an oil-in-water microemulsion of curcumin penetrated deeper into the human stratum corneum and hair follicles compared to an amphiphilic cream.
93 citations
,
January 2007 in “Skin Pharmacology and Physiology” In this study, caffeine applied in a shampoo penetrated hair follicles faster and more effectively than through the skin surface within the first 20 minutes.
127 citations
,
June 2006 in “International Journal of Pharmaceutics” This research found that liquid-state liposomes and niosomes may enhance finasteride delivery to pilosebaceous units in hamsters more effectively than gel-state vesicles or hydroalcoholic solution.
46 citations
,
May 2006 in “Laser Physics” In this study, particles similar in size to keratin cells were surprisingly found to penetrate more efficiently into hair follicles due to a possible pumping effect from moving hairs.
161 citations
,
April 2006 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Liposomes with certain properties can effectively deliver drugs deep into hair follicles.
323 citations
,
April 2006 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” This study found that 40 nm nanoparticles can effectively penetrate into hair follicles and epidermal Langerhans cells in human skin samples, potentially enabling efficient transcutaneous vaccine delivery.
224 citations
,
March 2006 in “Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery” This article discusses the hair follicle's regenerative cycles and the molecular mechanisms influencing them, emphasizing the need for therapeutic targeting of the "hair cycle clock" to manage hair growth disorders, without reporting new research findings.
297 citations
,
December 2005 in “Journal of controlled release” This study found that POD-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles using 0.5% poloxamer 188 and 1.5% soybean lecithin (P-SLN) improved epidermal targeting and POD accumulation in porcine skin compared to traditional tincture.
141 citations
,
November 2005 in “International journal of pharmaceutics” This review examines the role of hair follicles and sebaceous glands in percutaneous drug delivery but does not report new clinical results; it calls for further exploration of follicle-targeting therapies.
36 citations
,
July 2004 in “Journal of Controlled Release” This study demonstrates that confocal laser scanning microscopy can effectively visualize the rapid diffusion and penetration pathway of a dye into the hair follicle in fresh human scalp skin.
253 citations
,
June 2004 in “Journal of Controlled Release” The research observed that 40-nm self-assembled nanoparticles enhanced minoxidil penetration in hairy guinea pig skin compared to 130-nm nanoparticles, but this size effect was absent in hairless skin.
316 citations
,
June 2004 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” This study found that using a standardized protocol with microspheres of approximately 1.5 micrometers enhances penetration into hair follicles, particularly when skin is treated with cyanoacrylate skin surface stripping.
405 citations
,
January 2004 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” This study found that hair follicle characteristics vary significantly across different body sites, with the forehead and calf showing the highest potential follicular reservoirs, challenging previous assumptions about skin appendage distribution.
34 citations
,
September 2003 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings” This review discusses advancements in gene delivery to hair follicles and suggests potential gene therapy applications for treating hair loss, but it reports no new experimental results.
44 citations
,
April 2003 in “European journal of pharmaceutical sciences” This study found that targeting the hair follicle can be increased by using lipophilic drugs combined with surfactant solutions and propylene glycol.
55 citations
,
January 2002 in “Journal of liposome research” This research explores developing liposomal formulations to enhance the delivery of difficult-to-absorb agents directly to hair follicles and sebaceous glands, with minoxidil and plasmid DNA as study molecules.
88 citations
,
July 2001 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement” This study reported that antimicrobial and topical retinoid therapies led to significant changes in the lipid profiles of sebaceous follicular infundibulum, with increased triglycerides and ceramide subfractions observed.
72 citations
,
January 2001 in “Drugs” This review discusses current and emerging drug therapies for treating androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata, and reports no clinical results; it highlights a need for improved and novel treatments.
124 citations
,
April 2000 in “Nature biotechnology” 
60 citations
,
February 1997 in “Journal of Dermatological Science” This study demonstrated that phosphatidylcholine liposomes can deliver calcein and melanin into hair follicles and shafts in mice without significant penetration into the dermis, epidermis, or bloodstream.
