Encapsulation-integrated microneedle platforms for alopecia treatment: a review of controlled drug delivery, immunomodulation, and hair follicle regeneration
- 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States.
- 2Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States.
- 3Department of Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States.
Abstract
Alopecia is a multifactorial disorder characterized by progressive hair loss, follicular dysfunction, and, in some cases, immune-mediated damage, significantly affecting patient quality of life. Although conventional therapies such as topical minoxidil, corticosteroids, and oral immunomodulators remain widely used, their clinical efficacy is often limited by poor skin penetration, short therapeutic duration, systemic adverse effects, and the need for frequent administration. In recent years, microneedle-based platforms have emerged as promising minimally invasive systems capable of enhancing transdermal delivery directly to the follicular microenvironment. This review explores the emerging design space of microneedle platforms integrated with advanced encapsulation strategies for alopecia treatment, with particular emphasis on their roles in immunomodulation and tissue regeneration. By examining the interplay between material composition, carrier architecture, and release behavior, we discuss how these systems improve localized delivery while enabling sustained and controlled therapeutic exposure within the hair follicle niche. Recent advances in nanoparticles, nanoliposomes, porous materials, and microsphere-integrated microneedles, as well as light-guiding systems, have expanded the capabilities of conventional polymeric microneedles beyond passive drug delivery. These platforms enhance drug stability, regulate release kinetics, improve follicular targeting, and actively modulate key biological processes associated with alopecia pathogenesis and regeneration. Reported therapeutic effects include suppression of inflammatory signaling pathways, regulation of immune-cell infiltration, stimulation of angiogenesis, reduction of oxidative stress, activation of follicular stem-cell populations, and promotion of the telogen-to-anagen transition. Collectively, these advances position encapsulation-integrated microneedle systems as a promising class of next-generation therapeutic platforms capable of combining localized delivery with biological microenvironment modulation. Finally, this review discusses current translational challenges, including manufacturing scalability, formulation stability, long-term safety, and disease-specific platform design, while highlighting future opportunities for personalized and regenerative alopecia therapies.
Related
- From revascularization to multimodal integrated therapy for peripheral arterial disease: immunomodulation, metabolic correction, and tissue engineering
- Cholesterol- and Biosurfactant-Stabilized Ethosomes for Betanin: Formulation, Encapsulation and Controlled In Vitro Release
- Elucidating Temporally Ordered Physiological Events During Liver Regeneration via Integrated Transcriptomic-Histological Profiling
- Overcoming Intra-Articular Delivery Barriers in Cartilage Regeneration: Emerging Controlled-Release Strategies
- Tissue engineering strategies from regional functional units to integrated functional reconstruction for intervertebral disc regeneration
BibTeX
@article{boniche2026encapsulationintegrated,
title = {{Encapsulation-integrated microneedle platforms for alopecia treatment: a review of controlled drug delivery, immunomodulation, and hair follicle regeneration}},
author = {Kerlin E Balza Boniche and Maria J Rey-Sanchez and Andres F Roca-Arroyo and Jhonatan A Gutierrez-Rivera and Diego Balda and Logan D Morton and David A Castilla-Casadiego},
journal = {Frontiers in Immunology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2026.1952774},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1952774/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Encapsulation-integrated microneedle platforms for alopecia treatment: a review of controlled drug delivery, immunomodulation, and hair follicle regeneration
AU - Kerlin E Balza Boniche
AU - Maria J Rey-Sanchez
AU - Andres F Roca-Arroyo
AU - Jhonatan A Gutierrez-Rivera
AU - Diego Balda
AU - Logan D Morton
AU - David A Castilla-Casadiego
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/14
JO - Frontiers in Immunology
DO - 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1952774
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1952774/full
AB - Alopecia is a multifactorial disorder characterized by progressive hair loss, follicular dysfunction, and, in some cases, immune-mediated damage, significantly affecting patient quality of life. Although conventional therapies such as topical minoxidil, corticosteroids, and oral immunomodulators remain widely used, their clinical efficacy is often limited by poor skin penetration, short therapeutic duration, systemic adverse effects, and the need for frequent administration. In recent years, microneedle-based platforms have emerged as promising minimally invasive systems capable of enhancing transdermal delivery directly to the follicular microenvironment. This review explores the emerging design space of microneedle platforms integrated with advanced encapsulation strategies for alopecia treatment, with particular emphasis on their roles in immunomodulation and tissue regeneration. By examining the interplay between material composition, carrier architecture, and release behavior, we discuss how these systems improve localized delivery while enabling sustained and controlled therapeutic exposure within the hair follicle niche. Recent advances in nanoparticles, nanoliposomes, porous materials, and microsphere-integrated microneedles, as well as light-guiding systems, have expanded the capabilities of conventional polymeric microneedles beyond passive drug delivery. These platforms enhance drug stability, regulate release kinetics, improve follicular targeting, and actively modulate key biological processes associated with alopecia pathogenesis and regeneration. Reported therapeutic effects include suppression of inflammatory signaling pathways, regulation of immune-cell infiltration, stimulation of angiogenesis, reduction of oxidative stress, activation of follicular stem-cell populations, and promotion of the telogen-to-anagen transition. Collectively, these advances position encapsulation-integrated microneedle systems as a promising class of next-generation therapeutic platforms capable of combining localized delivery with biological microenvironment modulation. Finally, this review discusses current translational challenges, including manufacturing scalability, formulation stability, long-term safety, and disease-specific platform design, while highlighting future opportunities for personalized and regenerative alopecia therapies.
SN - 1664-3224
ER -