Duo-role Platelet-rich Plasma: temperature-induced fibrin gel and growth factors' reservoir for microneedles to promote hair regrowth

Abstract

Introduction: Alopecia concerns more than half our adult population. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been applied in skin rejuvenation and hair loss treatment. However, the pain and bleeding during injection and the troublesome for fresh preparation of each action limit PRP's in-depth applying dedication to clinics.

Objectives: We report a temperature-sensitive PRP induced fibrin gel included in a detachable transdermal microneedle (MN) for hair growth.

Results: PRP gel interpenetrated with the photocrosslinkable gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) to realize sustained release of growth factors (GFs) and led to 14% growth in mechanical strength of a single microneedle whose strength reached 1.21 N which is sufficient to penetrate the stratum corneum. PRP-MNs' release of VEGF, PDGF, and TGF-β were characterized and quantitatively around the hair follicles (HFs) for 4-6 days consecutively. PRP-MNs promoted hair regrowth in mice models. From transcriptome sequencing, PRP-MNs induced hair regrowth through angiogenesis and proliferation. The mechanical and TGF-β sensitive gene Ankrd1 was significantly upregulated by PRP-MNs treatment.

Conclusion: PRP-MNs show convenient, minimally invasive, painless, inexpensive manufacture, storable and sustained effects in boosting hair regeneration.

Keywords: Fibrin penetrated GelMA microneedle; Growth factor reservoir; Hair regrowth microneedle patch; Thermal sensitive PRP gel; platelet-rich plasma (PRP) induced fibrin network.