Hydrogel Microneedle Delivery of a Palmitoylated Peptide Promotes Hair Regeneration via Dual Activation of Wnt/β-Catenin and cAMP–PKA Signaling

The study explores the use of a palmitoylated peptide, Pal-MPAPO, delivered via a hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel microneedle system to promote hair regeneration. This method addresses the challenges of poor skin delivery and frequent dosing associated with topical applications of bioactive peptides. Pal-MPAPO activates the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and increases cAMP levels in human dermal papilla cells, primarily through VPAC1. In a C57BL/6 mouse model, the microneedle delivery of Pal-MPAPO significantly enhanced hair regrowth, showing efficacy comparable to minoxidil but with less frequent application. This suggests that Pal-MPAPO, combined with hydrogel microneedle delivery, is a promising strategy for localized hair regeneration.