Beihang University team's Detangle electric comb raises hair regrowth in mice to nearly 100%
Authors report a comb with electrodes and drug modules that delivers a plasmid and siRNA into follicles during combing; tested on an alopecia mouse model.
Researchers at Beihang University in Beijing, together with colleagues from Anhui Medical University, Peking University Cancer Hospital and City University of Hong Kong, have described a comb-shaped bioelectronic system named Detangle. It is intended for treating androgenetic alopecia during daily hair combing, according to a paper published in Nature Communications on 3 November 2026. doi.org
Nature Communicationsdoi.orgOpen source ↗ In a mouse model of androgenetic alopecia, the authors report that hair restoration efficacy rose from ~70% with conventional topical minoxidil to nearly 100% within one month.
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Nature Communicationsdoi.orgOpen source ↗
The authors note that androgenetic alopecia affects over 1.5 billion people and causes progressive hair loss with psychological and quality-of-life burdens. Oral medications cause systemic side effects, while topical applications have limited efficacy. doi.org
Nature Communicationsdoi.orgOpen source ↗
Comb design and electric field
The teeth of the comb carry electrodes of different heights and integrated drug-loading modules. According to the authors, this arrangement produces an enhanced electric field that penetrates up to ~9 times deeper into hair follicle regions than conventional external application. doi.org
Nature Communicationsdoi.orgOpen source ↗
Stimulation and delivery to follicular cells
The authors show that the localized field does two things at once. It electrostimulates the hair follicles, and it electrodelivers two agents into follicular cells: a plasmid encoding vascular endothelial growth factor A and an siRNA targeting steroid 5-alpha-reductase 2. doi.org
Nature Communicationsdoi.orgOpen source ↗ The aim of this combination is to promote angiogenesis and suppress androgen synthesis.
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Nature Communicationsdoi.orgOpen source ↗
The authors attribute the effect to synergistic regulation of cellular metabolism. doi.org
Nature Communicationsdoi.orgOpen source ↗ They conclude that Detangle is safe and effective for deep tissue delivery in dermatology.
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Nature Communicationsdoi.orgOpen source ↗
The results described in the paper come from a mouse model. The material contains no data on use in humans.
