Microneedle-Assisted Delivery of PEGylated Recombinant Human Fusion Collagen for Androgenetic Alopecia: Preclinical and Pilot Clinical Evidence
June 2026
in “
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology
”
microneedle-assisted delivery PEGylated recombinant human fusion collagen androgenetic alopecia testosterone-induced AGA hair regrowth hair follicle count anagen phase Wnt/β-catenin-VEGF axis hair density vellus hairs terminal hairs ECM repair functional pathway activation microneedling PEG-rhCol-F AGA hair growth hair follicles hair cycle Wnt pathway VEGF hair thickness vellus to terminal transition extracellular matrix repair
TLDR Microneedle delivery of a special collagen shows promise for treating hair loss.
This study explores the use of microneedle-assisted delivery of PEGylated recombinant human fusion collagen (PEG-rhCol-F) for treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA). In a testosterone-induced AGA mouse model, the treatment significantly promoted hair regrowth, increased hair follicle count, and facilitated the transition to the anagen phase, linked to the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin-VEGF axis. A subsequent three-month pilot clinical trial with 15 AGA patients showed marked improvements in hair density and diameter, with a shift from vellus to terminal hairs. The treatment was well-tolerated, with only mild, transient adverse reactions. The study suggests that this dual-mechanism approach, combining ECM repair and functional pathway activation, is promising for AGA treatment and warrants further clinical investigation.
