Platycladus orientalis Leaf-Derived Exosome-like Nanovesicles Delivered by Hydrogel Microneedles Restore Follicular Immune Homeostasis and Promote Hair Regeneration in Androgenetic Alopecia
4 affiliations
- 1Xu Rongxiang Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Shandong Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Yantai 264003, China
- 2Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Shandong Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Yantai 264003, China
- 3Shanghai MEBO Life Science & Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201321, China
- 4The Second Clinical Medical College, Shandong Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Yantai 264003, China
Abstract
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most prevalent form of hair loss, yet current therapies offer limited efficacy and fail to restore the disrupted follicular immune microenvironment. Here, we developed a bioactive hydrogel microneedle system (P-MN) in which Platycladus orientalis leaf-derived exosome-like nanovesicles (Plao-ELNs) were encapsulated within a methacrylated hyaluronic acid/cactus polysaccharide (HAMA/CP) matrix for transdermal AGA therapy. The HAMA/CP hydrogel was evaluated for biocompatibility, antibacterial activity, and effects on the migration of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) in vitro; P-MN was assessed for hair regrowth, follicular architecture, and anagen induction in a murine AGA model; and the underlying mechanisms were examined using transcriptomics, flow cytometry, and molecular assays. The HAMA/CP hydrogel showed good biocompatibility and antibacterial activity, and enhanced the migration of DPCs, while enabling sustained intradermal retention of Plao-ELNs. In vivo, P-MN accelerated hair regrowth, restored follicular architecture, and increased the proportion of hair follicles in the anagen phase. Mechanistically, Plao-ELNs suppressed aberrant T-cell activation and reduced IL-17A secretion, thereby inhibiting NF-κB-mediated DKK1 expression and reactivating Wnt/β-catenin signaling in DPCs to promote hair follicle regeneration. The HAMA/CP matrix potentiated efficacy through antibacterial protection and prolonged local delivery, supporting P-MN as a promising strategy for AGA treatment.
Related
- Propolis-Based Microneedles Incorporating Neratinib-Loaded Ocimum basilicum Essential Oil-Based Lipid Nanovesicles for Minimally Invasive Cancer Therapy: Formulation and In Vivo Evaluation in an Ehrlich Solid Tumor Model.
- Phase-Programmed Microneedles Enable Sequential Hydrogen and Quercetin Release for Scar-Reduced Regeneration of Burn Wounds.
- Restoring Endothelial Mitochondrial Homeostasis With a Bioactive Nanoshield Promotes Vascular Regeneration on Cardiovascular Implants
- Advances in androgenetic alopecia model research
- Naringenin microneedles as theranostics in the management of rheumatoid arthritis
BibTeX
@article{shi2026platycladus,
title = {{Platycladus orientalis Leaf-Derived Exosome-like Nanovesicles Delivered by Hydrogel Microneedles Restore Follicular Immune Homeostasis and Promote Hair Regeneration in Androgenetic Alopecia}},
author = {Xueying Shi and Yueming Wang and Lingai Meng and Yuxia Wei and Guanglu Yin and Qian Xue and Qingxin Shang and Fanyue Zhou and Qianqian Luo and Yanlian Xiong},
journal = {Biomolecules},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/biom16101505},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/16/10/1505},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Platycladus orientalis Leaf-Derived Exosome-like Nanovesicles Delivered by Hydrogel Microneedles Restore Follicular Immune Homeostasis and Promote Hair Regeneration in Androgenetic Alopecia
AU - Xueying Shi
AU - Yueming Wang
AU - Lingai Meng
AU - Yuxia Wei
AU - Guanglu Yin
AU - Qian Xue
AU - Qingxin Shang
AU - Fanyue Zhou
AU - Qianqian Luo
AU - Yanlian Xiong
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Biomolecules
DO - 10.3390/biom16101505
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/16/10/1505
AB - Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most prevalent form of hair loss, yet current therapies offer limited efficacy and fail to restore the disrupted follicular immune microenvironment. Here, we developed a bioactive hydrogel microneedle system (P-MN) in which Platycladus orientalis leaf-derived exosome-like nanovesicles (Plao-ELNs) were encapsulated within a methacrylated hyaluronic acid/cactus polysaccharide (HAMA/CP) matrix for transdermal AGA therapy. The HAMA/CP hydrogel was evaluated for biocompatibility, antibacterial activity, and effects on the migration of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) in vitro; P-MN was assessed for hair regrowth, follicular architecture, and anagen induction in a murine AGA model; and the underlying mechanisms were examined using transcriptomics, flow cytometry, and molecular assays. The HAMA/CP hydrogel showed good biocompatibility and antibacterial activity, and enhanced the migration of DPCs, while enabling sustained intradermal retention of Plao-ELNs. In vivo, P-MN accelerated hair regrowth, restored follicular architecture, and increased the proportion of hair follicles in the anagen phase. Mechanistically, Plao-ELNs suppressed aberrant T-cell activation and reduced IL-17A secretion, thereby inhibiting NF-κB-mediated DKK1 expression and reactivating Wnt/β-catenin signaling in DPCs to promote hair follicle regeneration. The HAMA/CP matrix potentiated efficacy through antibacterial protection and prolonged local delivery, supporting P-MN as a promising strategy for AGA treatment.
SN - 2218-273X
ER -