Lipid nanocarriers as innovative strategies for hair regrowth

Alopecia, or hair loss, is a multifactorial condition that may arise from genetic, hormonal, or autoimmune causes. This review outlines the major types of alopecia and discusses their underlying etiologies, along with the limitations associated with current therapeutic approaches, including poor efficacy, adverse effects, and low patient adherence. In recent years, lipid-based nanoparticles have emerged as promising carriers for improving the delivery of therapeutic agents to the scalp and hair follicles. The present review summarizes different treatment strategies for alopecia while highlighting the potential role of lipid-based nanocarriers in enhancing drug delivery. The review critically summarizes recent advances in the use of these nanocarriers for alopecia management, with focus on their ability to improve skin penetration, follicular targeting, drug stability, and sustained release characteristics. In addition, the advantages and limitations of different lipid-based systems are comparatively discussed, together with current challenges related to formulation stability, large-scale production, safety, and regulatory considerations in dermatological nanomedicine. Overall, this review provides an updated perspective on the therapeutic potential and translational prospects of lipid based nanocarriers as emerging platforms for alopecia treatment, while highlighting the need for further preclinical and clinical validation.