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Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a transracial and cross‐gender disease worldwide with a youth‐oriented tendency, but it lacks effective treatment. The binding of androgen receptor (AR) and androgen plays an essential role in the occurrence and progression of AGA. Herein, novel proteolysis targeting chimera degrader of AR (AR‐PROTAC) is synthesized and integrated with dissolving microneedles (PROTAC‐MNs) to achieve AR destruction in hair follicles for AGA treatment. The PROTAC‐MNs possess adequate mechanical capabilities for precise AR‐PROTAC delivery into the hair follicle‐residing regions for AR degradation. After applying only once topically, the PROTAC‐MNs achieve an accelerated onset of hair regeneration as compared to the daily application of the first‐line topical drug minoxidil. Intriguingly, PROTAC‐MNs via single administration still realize superior hair regeneration in AGA recrudescence, which is the major drawback of minoxidil in clinical practice. With the degradation of AR, the PROTAC‐MNs successfully regulate the signaling cascade related to hair growth and activate hair follicle stem cells. Furthermore, the PROTAC‐MNs do not cause systemic toxicity or androgen deficiency‐related chaos in vivo. Collectively, these AR‐degrading dissolving microneedles with long‐lasting efficacy, one‐step administration, and high biocompatibility provide a great therapeutic potential for AGA treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a phenylpropyl substance synthesized through the shikimic acid pathway. In addition to its anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant abilities, CGA also has immunomodulatory effects. The aim of the present study is to investigate the therapeutic effects of CGA on the skin damage and arthritis caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in an MRL/lpr mouse model. In the SLE model, female MRL/lpr mice at the age of 10 weeks old were treated with CGA daily or cyclophosphamide (CTX) weekly via intraperitoneal injection for three months. After treatment, CGA can significantly alleviate the skin and mucous membrane damage caused by SLE and has a certain improvement effect on arthritis. CGA could inhibit dsDNA expression to a certain extent but has no obvious regulation on ANA concentration. The ELISA and BioMAP results indicated that CGA might play an anti-inflammatory role by down-regulating the interleukin (IL)-17 level. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that CGA can alleviate multiorgan damage in MRL/lpr mice by reducing IL-17. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The transdermal delivery of macromolecular drugs has become one of the focused topics in pharmaceutical research since it enables highly specific and effective delivery, while avoiding the pain and needle phobia associated with injection, or incidences like drug degradation and low bioavailability of oral administration. However, the passive absorption of macromolecular drugs via skin is highly restricted by the stratum corneum owing to high molecular weight. Therefore, various strategies have been extensively developed and conducted to facilitate the transdermal delivery of macromolecular drugs, among which, mechanical force-assisted techniques occupy dominant positions. Such techniques include ultrasound, needle-free jet injection, temporary pressure and microneedles. In this review, we focus on recent transdermal enhancing strategies utilizing mechanical force, and summarize their mechanisms, advantages, limitations and clinical applications respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Micro/nanorobots that can effectively convert diverse energy sources into movement can revolutionize the field of pharmaceutical, particularly targeted drug delivery. By targeted transport and triggered release, drug can be delivered to targeted tissues or body sites. Targeted transport is discussed with different actuation energy sources including self-propelled (H 2 O 2 and enzymes), external field-propelled (light, electrical, acoustics and magnetic field) and motile microorganism-propelled (bacterium, sperm, and contractile and immune cells) types. Triggered release systems including physiological environment, external fields and other mechanisms categories are also discussed here for the first time. With different transport and triggered release systems, micro/nanorobots achieved the goal of precise delivery of therapeutics. This review may provide a different perspective or referable guidance for the future development of more flexible targeted delivery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]