Minoxidil-encapsulated poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles with hair follicle delivery properties prepared using W/O/W solvent evaporation and sonication.

Background: Nanoparticles with a diameter of 100-150 nm prepared using poly(lactide-co-glycolide) can be delivered to hair follicles. Moreover, it was shown that drug release from nanoparticles was prolonged by using poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLLGA).

Objective: The aim of this study was to prepared minoxidil-encapsulated PLLGA nanoparticles and accumulate minoxidil in hair follicles utilizing its drug delivery properties for effective treatment of male and female androgenetic alopecia.

Methods: Minoxidil-encapsulated PLLGA nanoparticles were prepared using W/O/W solvent evaporation and sonication, and the ability of PLLGA nanoparticles to deliver to hair follicles was evaluated by in vivo transdermal delivery study using C3H/He mice and tape stripping and cyanoacrylate skin surface biopsy.

Results: Eight hours after administration of samples, minoxidil-encapsulated PLLGA nanoparticles delivered 3.1 times more minoxidil in stratum corneum and 2.5 times more in hair follicles r compared to minoxidil aqueous solution. In addition, we found that 4.8% of the dose of minoxidil-encapsulated PLLGA nanoparticles were delivered to the hair follicles.

Conclusions: In this study, it was shown that nanoparticulation using PLLGA7510 suppressed minoxidil release from nanoparticles and improved drug delivery amount to hair follicles.