Species and model
Mouse model of androgenetic alopecia. Secondary reporting adds: experimentally induced pattern hair loss, treated on shaved backs.
ElectroComb, the device opened.
ElectroComb
The device, opened.
Turn the comb. Follow the field, the payload, and the follicle.
Teaching model · not an engineering drawing
Arrow keys tilt the model when the frame is focused. Pointer movement adds a small parallax. Hover is not required.
Teeth, a clear housing, and a board in the handle. The next chapter opens each region.
Whole device
A transparent comb-shaped instrument: teeth to meet the skin, a payload associated with some teeth, and electronics in the handle.
Illustrative assembly
Height-differentiated electrodes and drug-loading modules are what the abstract describes.
02 — Device
What the comb is made of
Five regions you can select, from housing to the point of contact.
Teaching model · not an engineering drawing
Arrow keys tilt the model when the frame is focused. Pointer movement adds a small parallax. Hover is not required.
Whole device
A transparent comb-shaped instrument: teeth to meet the skin, a payload associated with some teeth, and electronics in the handle.
Illustrative assembly
Height-differentiated electrodes and drug-loading modules are what the abstract describes.
03 — Field
Into the scalp
A pulse drawn from the comb into a cross-section of skin.
A field, drawn through the skin.
The authors describe a deeper local field together with molecular delivery.
04 — Pathways
Two molecular stories
A VEGFA plasmid for vessel signals. An SRD5A2 siRNA on the path toward DHT. Then both.
VEGFA plasmid
A DNA circle encoding VEGFA is meant to be taken up so follicle-region cells make more of a vessel-growth signal. The hope is better local blood supply.
Technical detail
VEGFA is the gene for vascular endothelial growth factor A. A plasmid is a circular DNA used as a temporary instruction. Cells that read it can secrete VEGF protein, which can invite microvessel growth.
Both molecules are named in the abstract. The plasmid and the siRNA stay visually distinct, and neither is drawn as a permanent edit.
05 — Cycle
Resting phase, growth phase
A resting follicle and a growing one, as a diagram of the cycle.
From rest toward growth.
Telogen
Resting phase. The follicle is drawn short, with little shaft above the skin.
06 — Study
The mouse study
The mouse study behind the comb, in the wording of the abstract.
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.
07 — Release
The path to release
What the program measures next.
01
Mouse study
02
Phase 1
03
Phase 2
04
Phase 3
05
Release
The list is open.
Releasing only after passing Human Trials Phase 1, 2 & 3