Hair Follicle Organoids: Advances in Construction, Applications, and Translational Challenges

May 2026 in “ Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology ”

Xinyi Yao, Rui Ding, Yuan Chuanjian, Duorong Zeng, Yang Liu, Jun Zhang, Junling Zhang

hair follicle organoids HFOs epithelial–mesenchymal interactions primary cell-based co-culture systems iPSC-derived methods disease modeling drug screening regenerative medicine biomaterials bioengineering stem cell-derived methods induced pluripotent stem cells

TLDR Hair follicle organoids can help study hair biology and disorders but need improvements for wider use.

Hair follicle organoids (HFOs) are emerging as valuable in vitro models that mimic the structure and function of native hair follicles, offering new insights into hair biology and disorders. This review discusses the construction of HFOs, emphasizing the importance of epithelial–mesenchymal interactions and comparing various generation strategies, such as primary cell-based co-culture systems and iPSC-derived methods. HFOs have applications in disease modeling, drug screening, and regenerative medicine, but face challenges like large-scale cultivation and standardization. Future advancements in biomaterials and bioengineering are anticipated to improve their physiological relevance and clinical translation potential.

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