The effect of oxygen supply using perfluorocarbon-based nanoemulsions on human hair growth

Hair dermal papilla cells (hDPCs) play a crucial role in hair growth and regeneration, and their function is influenced by nutrient and oxygen supply. A microenvironment with significantly low oxygen (O₂) levels, known as anoxic conditions (<0.2%) due to oxygen deficiency, hinders hDPC promotion and retards hair regrowth. Here, a nanoemulsion (NE) based on perfluorooctyl bromide (PFOB), a member of the perfluorocarbon family, is presented to provide a sustainable O₂ supply and maintain physical stability in vitro. The PFOB-NE has been shown to continuously release oxygen for 36 h, increasing and maintaining the O₂ concentration in the anoxic microenvironment of up to 0.8%. This sustainable O₂ supply using PFOB-NE has promoted hDPC growth and also induced a complex cascade of effects. These effects encompass regulation via inhibiting lactate accumulation caused via oxygen deficiency, increasing lactate dehydrogenase activity, and promoting the expression of genes, such as the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 family and NADPH oxidase 4 under anoxic conditions. Sustained O₂ supply is shown to enhance human hair organ elongation approximately four times compared to the control under anoxic conditions. In conclusion, the perfluorocarbon-based NE containing oxygen proves to be an important strategic tool for improving hair growth and alleviating hair loss.