Development of minoxidil-loaded double emulsion PLGA nanoparticles for the treatment of hair loss

Topical administration of minoxidil (MXD) on the skin is a widely used method for the treatment of hair loss. To enhance the efficacy of MXD in human skin, the appendageal route through the hair follicle could be promising. Therefore, we developed MXD-loaded double emulsion nanoparticles (MXD-DE-NPs) using poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide; PLGA) and surfactants. The size of MXD-DE-NPs was 137.8 ± 0.814 nm and their encapsulation efficiency of MXD was approximately 43%. The MXD-DE-NPs showed no aggregation in aqueous conditions at 1% w/v MXD concentration without ethanol and propylene glycol. In human follicular dermal papilla cells, the NPs showed fast cellular uptake and no significant toxicity. After treatment on the skin of shaved mice, efficient skin penetration of the NPs could be observed on fluorescence imaging. NP treatment for three weeks resulted in efficient regrowth of hair in mice without ethanol and propylene glycol similar to the traditional MXD formula. These results demonstrated that MXD-DE-NPs are a promising carrier for MXD in the treatment of hair loss.