March 2024 in “Chinese medicine and natural products” In this study, microneedle combined with 5% topical minoxidil significantly increased hair count in androgenetic alopecia, suggesting it as a potential additional therapy option; however, microneedle alone had limited effects.
December 2023 in “Veterinary dermatology” This study found that microneedling with longer needles (3 mm) showed better hair regrowth in dogs with hair cycle arrest, although most experienced recurrent hair loss during follow-up. Some dogs also developed minor, temporary itching.
January 2023 in “Theranostics” This study reported that a curcumin-zinc microneedle patch improved hair regrowth and wound healing in animal models, suggesting potential as a versatile treatment for hair loss.
January 2013 in “프로그램북(구 초록집)” This study found that home-use microneedle devices combined with 5% minoxidil are not inferior to using 5% minoxidil alone for treating pattern hair loss, and may safely enhance hair growth.
September 2026 in “Materials Today Bio” This review discusses recent advances in microneedle technology for androgenetic alopecia treatment, focusing on improved follicular delivery and various therapeutic mechanisms, while highlighting challenges in translating preclinical findings to clinical use.
July 2026 in “Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology” This review highlights that Microneedle Hydrogels may offer promising advantages for diabetic foot ulcer treatment due to their minimally invasive application and effective drug delivery capabilities.
This study introduced fibronectin nanogel microneedles (FNG MNs) that demonstrated improved tissue penetration and transdermal delivery, restoring skin homeostasis in a photoaged mouse model and enhancing collagen deposition and angiogenesis in a diabetic wound rat model.
June 2026 in “ACS Nano Medicine” This study designed fibronectin nanogel microneedles, reporting their potential to enhance tissue repair by improving collagen organization, reducing inflammation, and promoting angiogenesis in both photoaged and diabetic wound models.
June 2026 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” This study reported that microneedle-assisted delivery of PEGylated recombinant human fusion collagen significantly improved hair regrowth and density in an androgenetic alopecia mouse model and in a small clinical trial with AGA patients, suggesting potential efficacy and safety for this treatment approach.
May 2026 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” This study investigated the effectiveness of combining microneedling with 2% topical minoxidil in women with mild-to-moderate androgenetic alopecia and found that adding microneedling every 2 or 4 weeks did not enhance outcomes compared to using minoxidil alone over 24 weeks.
April 2026 in “Journal of Nanobiotechnology” In this study, researchers developed a leech-inspired microneedle platform for targeted delivery of metformin to hair follicle cells, which showed promising results in reducing inflammation and oxidative stress and promoting hair growth, offering a potential new treatment strategy for androgenetic alopecia.
April 2026 in “BioNanoScience” A new microneedle system may improve hair loss treatment by delivering ketoconazole directly to hair follicles.
April 2026 in “bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)” This study introduced hydrogel microneedles loaded with palladium nanoparticles, which utilize the inherent cytotoxicity of polyethyleneimine to enhance the effectiveness of doxorubicin in treating melanoma, achieving a tumor inhibition rate of up to 98% in a murine model.
April 2026 in “ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces” In this study, researchers developed a fast-dissolving microneedle patch delivering minoxidil nanoparticles and plant-derived vesicles, which improved hair regrowth and follicle health in a mouse model of androgenetic alopecia by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation without causing skin irritation or systemic toxicity.
This study found that a bioorthogonal microneedle patch delivering AAV-aFGF effectively improved hair follicle regeneration and sustained hair growth in murine alopecia models compared to other methods.
March 2026 in “Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B” This review reports that microneedle-mediated transdermal drug delivery systems show promise in enhancing alopecia treatments by improving the efficacy of various therapeutic agents, including drugs, biologics, and stem cells, but highlights a gap between basic research advancements and clinical trial focus.
February 2026 in “Aesthetic Cosmetology and Medicine” In this case study, a 38-year-old woman with female androgenetic alopecia experienced improved hair density, reduced scalp oiliness, and enhanced hair structure after ten microneedle mesotherapy treatments combined with saw palmetto supplementation, with no adverse effects reported.
January 2026 in “Advanced Healthcare Materials” This study highlights a treatment approach using dissolving microneedle patches containing nanomicelles formed by stevioside to enhance the therapeutic efficacy and safety of poorly soluble drugs, as depicted in the cover illustration with luxuriant hair symbolizing its potential effectiveness.
December 2025 in “Journal of Nanobiotechnology” This study introduced a novel microneedle-based system for androgenetic alopecia treatment, which delivered Ginsenoside Compound K and S-nitrosoglutathione to enhance hair regeneration by improving the hair follicle microenvironment and promoting follicular cell proliferation.
July 2025 in “Interdisciplinary materials” This study found that a microneedle patch integrating curcumin-loaded vesicles and a stem cell-derived matrix showed promise in reducing hypertrophic scars and promoting hair follicle formation in a rabbit model.
June 2025 in “Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology” A dissolving microneedle patch with dutasteride offers effective, long-lasting hair loss treatment with fewer side effects.
April 2025 in “Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy” This study found that both microneedle delivery and intradermal injection of platelet-rich plasma were similarly effective for treating androgenetic alopecia, but microneedle delivery caused significantly less pain.
February 2025 in “Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials” This study reported that in animal studies of androgenetic alopecia, a biodegradable microneedle patch releasing glutamic acid promoted hair regeneration more effectively than daily minoxidil, with higher hair follicle counts and less frequent dosing, showing the potential for clinical application.
January 2025 in “Journal of Controlled Release” This study developed a gas-propelled microneedle patch with puerarin/quercetin nanoparticles, which demonstrated improved hair-regenerating effects in an androgenetic alopecia mouse model by increasing drug delivery, alleviating oxidative stress, promoting angiogenesis, and rejuvenating senescent cells.
January 2025 in “Journal of Materials Chemistry B” This research highlights the potential of using nanomaterials with advanced reactive oxygen properties to target oxidative stress in hair follicle tissue, which is associated with androgenetic alopecia, addressing a gap in the current understanding of AGA treatments.
January 2025 in “Regenerative Biomaterials” This study found that a microneedle patch with recombinant collagen XVII significantly improved hair coverage, follicle density, and angiogenesis in an androgenic alopecia mouse model, showing potential as a novel therapeutic strategy alongside established treatments like minoxidil.
January 2025 in “Interdisciplinary Research in Medical Sciences Specialty” This article proposes a novel approach to remodel the microenvironment of radiotherapy-induced skin defects, highlighting the lack of a standardized animal model as a barrier to progress in this field.
April 2024 in “Nano research” This study on androgenetic alopecia in mice introduced a novel therapy combining microneedle patches and cold atmospheric plasma to enhance minoxidil delivery, leading to improved hair regeneration by boosting vascular growth and reshaping the hair follicle microenvironment.
April 2024 in “Skin research and technology” This study retrospectively observed that combining microneedle minoxidil with triamcinolone acetonide showed clinical efficacy in treating alopecia areata, a condition marked by sudden patchy hair loss.
September 2023 in “bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)” This study found that dissolving microneedle array patches containing mesoporous silica nanoparticles can deliver antigen-loaded nanoparticles into mice effectively, inducing strong immune responses similar to traditional subcutaneous injection.