Topical Carrier-Free Delivery of Finasteride and Peptides for Enhanced Hair Growth.

Finasteride is widely used to treat androgenetic alopecia; however, concerns regarding systemic side effects limit its long-term use. Here, we developed a peptide-based, carrier-free topical delivery system that enhances hair growth while minimizing systemic exposure to finasteride. The system employs a skin- and cell-penetrating peptide with intrinsic anti-inflammatory activity as both the delivery vehicle and a therapeutic component. Upon coassembly with finasteride via a compositionally tuned hydrophobic block, the peptide formed well-defined nanocomplexes (NCs) that synergistically improved dermal papilla cell viability. In vivo, the NCs promoted hair regeneration to a level comparable to, or exceeding, that of 5% minoxidil, despite delivering approximately 40-fold less finasteride than the standard oral dose. Biochemical analyses confirmed accelerated transition of hair follicles from the catagen to anagen phase. This topical carrier-free strategy enhances finasteride efficacy while reducing side effects and offers a versatile platform for dermatological drug delivery.