Regenerative medicine strategies for hair growth and regeneration

Hair, present across the human body, serves vital functions including protection, insulation, and sensory perception. Its growth cycle, characterized by anagen, catagen, and telogen phases, orchestrates the hair follicle's dynamic processes. Alopecia, comprising scarring (CA) and non-scarring (non-CA) types, affects approximately 5% of alopecia cases, often due to unknown inflammatory causes.

Regenerative medicine endeavors to restore normal function through cell, tissue, and organ replacement or regeneration. Stem cells (SCs), soluble molecules, and gene-based therapies, including tissue engineering, offer promise in alopecia treatment. SC and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapies exhibit therapeutic potential, leveraging SCs' properties such as self-renewal and migration for tissue repair. Emerging cell-free approaches like MSC-derived secretome (EVs and exosomes) and PRP demonstrate effectiveness in restoring injured tissues by harnessing their paracrine factors' multifunctional capabilities.

Compared to MSC-based therapies, EVs and PRP present safer alternatives, mitigating risks associated with cell administration, such as embolism and immune response disorders. Moreover, they maintain potency post-manipulation, offering advantages in terms of safety, immunogenicity, and storage feasibility. These attributes render them suitable for emergency healthcare in resource-limited settings, facilitating broader accessibility and application, including in developing countries.