February 2026 in “Figshare” In this study, researchers developed a biocompatible, ROS-responsive hydrogel to deliver miR-665 locally, effectively reducing inflammatory signaling and promoting hair follicle regeneration in an alopecia areata mouse model, offering a promising approach for targeted treatment.
February 2026 in “Figshare” This study found that a newly developed biocompatible hydrogel, responsive to reactive oxygen species, enabled targeted delivery of miR-665, significantly promoting hair regeneration and reducing T-cell infiltration in a mouse model of alopecia areata, suggesting a promising strategy for treating this condition.
21 citations
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June 2024 in “Pharmaceuticals” This review examines the potential of swellable microneedles in drug delivery and diagnostics, highlighting innovations and challenges in their use for chronic disease treatment, but noting that issues like physiological responsiveness and long-term stability still require research.
48 citations
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July 2023 in “Biomedicines” This review discusses transdermal drug delivery using hydrogel-forming microneedles and highlights their potential for disease treatment, but notes challenges in their clinical application.
10 citations
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June 2023 in “Preprints.org” This review discusses transdermal drug delivery using hydrogel-forming microneedles and highlights their potential and challenges for clinical application, but it reports no new clinical findings.
December 2025 in “Rare Metals” This review assesses the potential of smart dressings, engineered to respond to various stimuli, as advanced treatments for chronic inflammatory skin diseases by examining their activation mechanisms and proposing future developments like integrating AI and closed-loop monitoring for adaptive therapy.
February 2026 in “Exploration” This review summarizes research on scar formation and inhibition mechanisms, discussing emerging therapies like gene therapy and stem cell treatments, but notes ongoing challenges for clinical application, including treatment personalization and outcome sustainability.
April 2024 in “Cosmetics” This review highlights the use of microneedling devices and patches to deliver cosmetic agents through the skin, noting their applications in skin rejuvenation and safety considerations such as potential skin irritation and infection.
87 citations
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December 2020 in “Journal of Materials Chemistry B” This study found that a nanofiber wound dressing made of CQD/Si NP/SF significantly inhibits bacterial growth and accelerates skin wound healing and hair follicle regeneration in animal models.
78 citations
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October 2012 in “Biomaterials” This study found that both human and rat dermal papilla spheroids can induce hair follicle neogenesis, but larger spheroids increase inductivity without significantly affecting hair fiber diameter.
26 citations
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June 2020 in “Polymers” This study reported that a magneto-responsive transdermal microneedle system delivered Minoxidil effectively and significantly increased hair density by 800% in mice with androgenetic alopecia after 10 days.
2 citations
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October 2025 in “Journal of Materials Science Materials in Medicine” In this study, researchers developed a novel zinc oxide nanoflower-infused nanocomposite that demonstrated promising results in accelerating wound healing in a murine model, with enhanced angiogenesis, reduced inflammation, and improved collagen deposition compared to a control group.
June 2026 in “Materials Today Communications” This study reported that a newly designed multifunctional conductive hydrogel, PrM, combined with electrical stimulation significantly accelerated wound healing, achieving 95.9% healing in a mouse model on day 10, by enhancing regenerative processes and downregulating TNF-α signaling under electrical treatment.
January 2026 in “Journal of Applied Polymer Science” In this study, researchers developed a novel composite fiber by incorporating minoxidil sulfate-loaded ZIF-8 nanoparticles into a polyvinyl alcohol matrix, achieving sustained drug release for up to 220 hours, strong mechanical properties, and the capability for cosmetic applications like wigs.
June 2026 in “Gümüşhane Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi” This study observed that biodegradable PVA/agar films with incorporated Achillea millefolium L. essential oil, especially at 1% (v/v), demonstrated good mechanical performance and selective antibacterial activity against E. coli, suggesting their potential as wound dressings.
78 citations
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February 2024 in “ACS Omega” This study developed a bilayer material combining poly(vinyl alcohol) and bacterial cellulose with a gelatin-poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel, showing strong potential as a wound dressing due to its good antibacterial properties, cell viability, and sustained drug release.
71 citations
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September 2013 in “Materials Science and Engineering C” Keratin-based hydrogels from human hair and wool are promising for wound dressings and are more eco-friendly.
54 citations
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May 2021 in “Chemical Engineering Journal” This study found that a novel hybrid bilayer scaffold system enhanced wound healing in an in-vivo model by promoting cell viability, migration, and preventing infection, showing potential as an advanced dressing for cutaneous wounds.
49 citations
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January 2018 in “Theranostics” This study found that a novel skin patch combining extracellular matrix and ciprofloxacin promotes advanced wound healing and skin regeneration in mouse models of infected wounds.
37 citations
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December 2024 in “Theranostics” In this study, a newly developed nanoparticle-loaded hydrogel wound dressing demonstrated significant antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and proangiogenic activities, effectively reducing pain and promoting healing in a murine burn wound model while preventing infection by *Staphylococcus aureus*.
36 citations
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July 2017 in “Journal of controlled release” In this study, a new formulation of all-trans retinoic acid bound to polyvinyl alcohol showed reduced skin inflammation and sustained drug release for up to six days compared to free ATRA in vitro and in vivo.
34 citations
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September 2019 in “ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering” In this study, probiotic-functionalized nanocomposite scaffolds accelerated wound healing and inhibited harmful bacteria in burn wounds on mice, suggesting a potential new approach for infection control and healing promotion.
31 citations
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July 2022 in “Advanced healthcare materials/Advanced Healthcare Materials” In this study, researchers developed a drug-free microneedle patch using chitosan lactate and stem cell-derived exosomes that significantly promotes hair regeneration in animal tests compared to minoxidil, highlighting its potential as a simple and efficient hair loss treatment.
28 citations
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June 2020 in “ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering” This study found that a novel ECM patch combining human fibroblast-derived matrix and PVA hydrogel, seeded with human mesenchymal stem cells, significantly improved wound healing and tissue regeneration in a mouse model.
11 citations
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January 2018 in “IET Nanobiotechnology” In this study, poly (ɛ-caprolactone)–chitosan–poly (vinyl alcohol) nanofibrous scaffolds used on canine skin wound models were found to significantly accelerate healing rates of excision and burn wounds, without inducing immunogenic reactions.
10 citations
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February 2023 in “Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects” This study found that a wound dressing made from egg white proteins, polyvinyl alcohol, and 1 mg/ml graphene oxide was most effective in promoting skin wound healing and tissue regeneration.
9 citations
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March 2018 in “Journal of the Formosan Medical Association” In this study, chitosan membranes enhanced melanocyte proliferation and survival by supporting both cell-cell and cell-substrate interactions, unlike polyvinyl alcohol membranes which only facilitated cell-cell interactions.
6 citations
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January 2024 in “Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology” This study developed a smart PVA-TPE/HA-AMP/SF/ALG wound dressing that shows promise in infected wound healing by providing bacterial resistance, promoting cell proliferation, and modulating inflammation through various signaling pathways, potentially reducing scar formation.
4 citations
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August 2023 in “Materials” This review highlights that synthetic biodegradable polymers like PVA, PCL, PLA, PLGA, PU, and PEO/PEG can address the limitations of natural polymers in wound healing, offering improved mechanical properties and slower degradation, thereby enhancing their application as wound dressings.
1 citations
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August 2023 in “Gels” This study found that a chitosan-based hydrogel containing silver nanoparticles and ibuprofen demonstrated strong antibacterial activity and accelerated wound healing in vivo, suggesting its potential use in wound dressings.