TLDR Transfollicular drug delivery can improve medication absorption through hair follicles.
The document discussed the potential of hair follicles as a route for drug delivery, highlighting their complex structure and interaction with various cells and molecules. It reviewed several studies showing that transfollicular drug delivery could enhance the absorption of topical and systemic medications, including minoxidil, adapalene, and caffeine. Techniques such as using foams, microemulsions, and liposomes were found to improve drug penetration through hair follicles more effectively than traditional methods. The findings suggested that transfollicular delivery could be a promising alternative to other drug delivery methods, particularly for large or hydrophilic molecules.
35 citations,
January 2018 in “Skin pharmacology and physiology” Nanoemulsion creams with certain enhancers can greatly increase caffeine delivery through skin.
122 citations,
March 2013 in “Expert opinion on drug delivery” Optimizing drug delivery to hair follicles is crucial for effective treatment.
74 citations,
June 2010 in “European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics” Minoxidil foam enters hair follicles and skin for hair growth.
182 citations,
December 2007 in “BJCP. British journal of clinical pharmacology/British journal of clinical pharmacology” Hair follicles significantly increase the speed and amount of caffeine absorbed through the skin.
82 citations,
January 2002 in “Journal of drug targeting” Drugs penetrate scalp skin better than abdominal skin, with scalp hair follicles aiding in higher drug delivery.
1 citations,
January 2001 in “Journal of Toxicology-cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology” Hair follicles could be used to deliver drugs effectively, with the right understanding and methods.
1 citations,
January 2017 in “Springer eBooks” Hair follicles are important for drug delivery through the skin, but better methods are needed to understand and improve this process.
10 citations,
April 2016 in “Research and reports in transdermal drug delivery” Transfollicular drug delivery is promising but needs more research to improve and understand it better.
27 citations,
August 2018 in “Therapeutic Delivery” Nanotechnology could make hair loss treatments more effective and reduce side effects, but more research is needed before it's available.
40 citations,
January 2018 in “Pharmaceutics” Eucalyptol and oleic acid in nanoemulsions improve minoxidil delivery to hair follicles, potentially enhancing hair loss treatment.
2 citations,
April 2021 in “International Journal of Pharmaceutics” Serum formulations were better at delivering molecules to the hair bulb than nanoparticles.