Species and model
Mouse model of androgenetic alopecia. Secondary reporting adds: experimentally induced pattern hair loss, treated on shaved backs.
Claims
The record behind the comb.
Device, molecules, and the mouse study that started the design.
Treatment duration
Abstract: within one month. News report: once every three days for 28 days. The schedule was not re-read in the full methods.
Intervention components
The comb-shaped device, local electrical stimulation, a VEGFA plasmid, and an SRD5A2 siRNA — used together in the reported experiment.
Comparator
Conventional topical minoxidil, described in the abstract as about 70% on the same kind of endpoint. A news report also says finasteride was outperformed, without a verified percentage.
Reported endpoint
Treated-area coverage in the mouse study. Abstract wording: from about 70% with minoxidil to nearly 100% with the combined approach.
Coverage
The abstract’s comparison, drawn as a sketch of the mouse study.
Nearly complete
Combined approach in the mouse study. Abstract: nearly complete coverage.
About 70%
Topical minoxidil comparator in the same kind of mouse experiment. Abstract: ~70%. Approximate.
Evidence notes
Every substantive statement used above lives in this list, with its category and source marker.
- Detangle is described as a comb-shaped bioelectronic system for androgenetic alopecia, with electronic teeth and integrated drug-loading modules, intended to be used while combing.
- The abstract states that height-differentiated electrodes produce an enhanced electric field, described as reaching up to about nine times deeper into follicle regions than conventional external application.
- The molecular payload named in the abstract is a plasmid encoding vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and a small interfering RNA targeting steroid 5-alpha-reductase 2 (SRD5A2).
- The supplied schematic labels an electrode module, a drug-loading module, a substrate layer, handle electronics, and tooth tips marked electrode, ballpoint, and spring.
- Secondary reporting describes the name Detangle, inspired by the animated film Tangled, and links the work to researchers led at Beihang University.
- The proposed mechanism is that a local electric field both stimulates follicles and helps carry the VEGFA plasmid and SRD5A2 siRNA into follicular cells, with the aim of supporting new vessels and reducing androgen synthesis.
- The plasmid is a DNA circle meant to be read for a time. The siRNA is meant to quiet SRD5A2 expression for a time. Neither is shown here as a permanent rewrite of the genome.
- The regrowth result in the abstract comes from an androgenetic alopecia mouse model.
- Secondary reporting says mice with experimentally induced pattern hair loss were treated on shaved backs once every three days for 28 days.
- The abstract reports an improvement from about 70% to nearly 100% within one month, compared with conventional topical minoxidil. That wording is read here as treated-area regrowth coverage in mice.
- Secondary reporting says the mouse experiment also outperformed finasteride. No percentage for that comparison was verified here.
- Secondary reporting says further mouse testing found more hair follicles and improved blood flow in treated skin. Those measurements are not quantified on this page.