May 2025 in “Acta Biomaterialia” This study developed microneedles combining insulin-like growth factor-1 and type XVII collagen, showing more effective hair regeneration and reduced inflammation compared to minoxidil in a mouse model of androgenetic alopecia.
This study found that recombinant human type XVII collagen (rhCOL17A1) promotes hair growth by activating the Wnt/β-catenin and SHH/GLI signaling pathways and increasing type XVII collagen expression, with significant effects observed in both cell and mouse models.
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.