Biomedical Technologies for Androgenic Alopecia Treatment: Advance, Mechanism and Future Direction

The most common form of hair loss, androgenetic alopecia (AGA), is characterized by progressive follicular shrinkage. Current research efforts are focused on developing novel therapeutic techniques that exhibit better efficacy and safety profiles. In response to this challenge, biomedical technology has emerged as a multidisciplinary field and offered marked advantages in overcoming skin barriers, enabling controlled drug release, and modulating the perifollicular microenvironment. This review provides a comprehensive overview of advanced biomedical technologies for AGA treatment. We first outline the pathogenesis and introduce some conventional therapies. We then delve into the advantages and practical applications of emerging biomedical technologies, including novel pharmacological formulations, nanotechnology, stem cell-based approaches, and microneedle platforms. Subsequently, our focus shifts to the analysis of current therapeutic strategies in addressing core pathogenic factors through the latest and representative case studies. The review concludes by highlighting major challenges and future directions of these biomedical technology-based approaches, aiming to provide insights for the rational design of next-generation AGA therapies.