Novel microneedle delivery systems applied to androgenetic alopecia:a review
XIE Zhong-bo
WANG Ping
XING Huai-jing
ZHANG Hui-min
Abstract：Androgenetic alopecia(AGA)is primarily characterized by disruptions in the hair growth cycle,follicular miniaturization,shortened anagen phases,and elongated telogen phases.Currently,finasteride and minoxidil are the preferred treatments for AGA,as well as various promising extracts and active compounds from traditional Chinese medicine.Beside oral and injectable forms,transdermal drug delivery systems(TDDS)enable direct targeting affected skin areas,bypassing gastrointestinal degradation and hepatic first-pass metabolism.However,the effectiveness of traditional TDDS is often impeded by the protective barrier of the stratum corneum.Utilizing microneedle technology,an innovative advancement in TDDS,effectively overcomes this barrier,significantly enhancing drug delivery efficiency while reducing frequency of administration,thus improving patient compliance.This review initiates with an exploration of the pathogenesis of AGA,enumerates various therapeutic agents,and specifically accentuates the evolving application of microneedle delivery systems in the management of AGA.We conclude with a discussion of the current challenges and propose directions for future research of microneedle technology.
Keywords：microneedlestransdermal drug delivery systemandrogenetic alopeciatestosterone5α-reductasecuticle barrierdrug delivery
Publication Date：2024-11-15
Online Publishing Date：2026-08-14(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：8( 2264-2271 )