Mechanical and Controlled PRP Injections in Patients Affected by Androgenetic Alopecia
January 27th, 2018
This paper aims to describe the interfollicular autologous platelet-rich plasma injections (0.20 mL x cm2) in the scalp of 23 patients affected by androgenetic alopecia at a depth of 5 mm using a medical injector gun equipped with a 30 gauge needle, in three sessions.
The aim of this work is to demonstrate the positive effects of mechanical and controlled PRP injection in the scalp of patients affected by androgenic alopecia. First step, autologous not-activated PRP preparation. Now, we can observe our PRP procedure according to the transfusional service.
In this case, we can harvest 55 mL of blood from the patients, as you can see in this moment. And after 10 minutes of centrifugation at 1, 200 RPM or 260 g force, we can obtain 23 mL of PRP and PPP, platelet-poor plasma. At this point, we can insert these specials obtained in a light selector device in which it is possible to select only platelet-rich plasma part, as you can see.
Second step, injection of autologous not-activated PRP. Now, we can see our mechanical and controlled PRP injection performed by a gun. In this case, we can inject with 10 mL syringe 0.2 mL of autologous not-activated PRP for each centimeter square in the scalp of patients affected by androgenetic alopecia at five millimeter of deep.
Now, it is possible to observe a detail of interfollicular PRP injection performed by a gun with 0.2 mL of PRP for each centimeter square. The results of this study showed a great increase of higher count and higher density after three mechanical and controlled PRP injection in the patients affected by androgenetic alopecia, as you can see in this moment. In conclusion, three mechanical and controlled PRP injection performed in the scalp of the patients affected by androgenetic alopecia compared with the old procedure based on manual injection, as you can see in this moment, improve higher count and higher density with reduction of pain during the procedure.
Local or systemic anesthesia are not performed.
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Overview
This study investigates the effects of interfollicular autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in patients with androgenetic alopecia. A total of 23 patients received PRP injections at a depth of 5 mm using a medical injector gun across three sessions.
Key Study Components
Area of Science
- Neuroscience
- Regenerative Medicine
- Dermatology
Background
- Androgenetic alopecia is a common form of hair loss.
- Platelet-rich plasma is derived from the patient's own blood.
- PRP is believed to promote hair growth through various growth factors.
- Controlled injection techniques may enhance the efficacy of PRP treatments.
Purpose of Study
- To evaluate the effectiveness of PRP injections in treating androgenetic alopecia.
- To assess the optimal injection technique for delivering PRP.
- To document patient outcomes following treatment.
Methods Used
- Preparation of autologous not-activated PRP from patient blood.
- Centrifugation of blood to separate PRP from platelet-poor plasma.
- Use of a medical injector gun for precise delivery of PRP.
- Administration of PRP injections in three separate sessions.
Main Results
- Successful preparation of PRP from patient blood samples.
- Positive patient responses observed post-treatment.
- Controlled injection technique demonstrated effective delivery.
- Potential for PRP as a viable treatment option for hair loss.
Conclusions
- Interfollicular PRP injections may benefit patients with androgenetic alopecia.
- Further studies are needed to confirm long-term efficacy.
- Controlled injection methods enhance treatment outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Executive Industry Relevance
This study demonstrates a standardized, mechanically controlled approach to autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) delivery for androgenetic alopecia, addressing variability in manual injection techniques. The method supports target validation in regenerative dermatology by enabling reproducible, depth-controlled interfollicular administration of bioactive factors. Such precision enhances predictive confidence in preclinical and early clinical evaluation of PRP-based hair regeneration strategies.
Strategic Applications in Biopharma R&D
Early Discovery & Target Validation
- Scientific Value: Enables interrogation of PRP’s mechanistic role in hair follicle stimulation through controlled, localized delivery.
- Operational Value: Reduces procedural variability, supporting consistent target engagement across preclinical models.
Screening & Assay Development
- Scientific Value: Provides a standardized injection protocol for evaluating PRP dose-response in ex vivo or organotypic scalp models.
- Operational Value: Facilitates assay reproducibility by defining precise volume (0.2 mL/cm²) and depth (5 mm) parameters.
Translational & Preclinical Research
- Scientific Value: Supports disease-relevant testing in androgenetic alopecia models by mimicking clinically relevant delivery parameters.
- Operational Value: Enables scalable, GMP-adjacent workflow development for autologous biologics in dermatology.
Pipeline & Workflow Integration
The method fits within the discovery-to-translational continuum for regenerative therapies, particularly in early validation of autologous biologics for dermatological indications.
- Discovery Biology: Supports hypothesis testing on PRP-mediated follicular activation via standardized delivery.
- Screening: Enables reproducible compound or biologic evaluation in hair follicle assays through controlled microinjection.
- Analytics: Generates quantitative endpoints such as hair count and density for objective outcome assessment.
- Translational Research: Bridges preclinical findings to clinical application via clinically translatable injection depth and volume.
- Enterprise Reuse: Establishes a platform-compatible injection protocol adaptable to other autologous biologics in dermatology.
Operational & Enterprise Impact
- Scientific Value: Enhances target validation confidence by minimizing delivery-related noise in mechanistic studies.
- Operational Value: Improves standardization and scalability of autologous biologic administration in outpatient settings.
- Strategic Value: Supports go/no-go decisions by reducing biological variability in early efficacy signals.
- Portfolio Impact: Enables risk-adjusted prioritization of PRP and similar regenerative candidates through consistent delivery metrics.
Implementation Considerations
- Requires expertise in autologous blood handling and PRP preparation under aseptic conditions.
- Depends on access to centrifuge and platelet-selective light separation technology.
- Necessitates standardization across sites for injection depth, volume, and device calibration.
- Must account for variability in patient-specific platelet yield and activation state.
- Limited to interfollicular delivery; does not address intra-follicular or topical alternative routes.
