Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Sep 03, 2025 3 hours, 42 minutes ago
Medical News: A new hope for those struggling with hair loss
Hair loss, also called alopecia, affects millions worldwide and often damages self-confidence and quality of life. Current treatments such as minoxidil or finasteride offer limited regrowth and must be used continuously. Now, scientists have revealed that a unique nanoscale antioxidant compound known as fullerene C60, when dispersed in water, can stimulate new hair growth and may open the door to safer and more effective treatments.
Breakthrough Discovery Shows Fullerene C60 Can Regrow Hair
This
Medical News report is based on the work of researchers from the NRC Institute of Immunology FMBA of Russia, the N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center for Oncology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, the Mechnikov Research Institute for Vaccines and Sera, and Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University.
What is Fullerene C60?
Fullerene C60, or Buckminsterfullerene, is a molecule composed of 60 carbon atoms arranged in a hollow, spherical structure that resembles a soccer ball, featuring 12 pentagonal faces and 20 hexagonal faces. Discovered in 1985, it is a stable allotrope of carbon known for its unique properties, such as its strong antioxidant capabilities and its use in developing advanced materials for electronics, biomedicine, and energy. Fullerene C60 is a potent antioxidant and acts as a "radical sponge," neutralizing harmful free radicals, including reactive oxygen species (ROS). Unlike most other antioxidants, it doesn't become self-reactive during this process.
How fullerene C60 works in hair regrowth
The team studied an aqueous dispersion of unmodified fullerene C60, also called ADF. This material is biocompatible and non-toxic, meaning it can be safely used in living systems. When ADF was injected into special laboratory mice that normally lose their hair, the scientists observed rapid regrowth. Within 14 days, new hair follicles were visible, and many entered the active growth phase known as anagen. The regrown hair was healthy, strong, and continued to grow even after the treatment stopped. This persistence is an important advantage over drugs that require constant use.
Unlocking molecular pathways
The study went deeper to uncover how ADF triggers growth. Genetic analysis showed that ADF increased the activity of Wnt10b, a key gene that signals follicles to leave their resting stage and begin producing new strands. It also boosted growth factors such as VEGF-A and EGF, which promote blood vessel formation and nourish hair follicles. At the same time, ADF reduced levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), a molecule linked to inflammation and hair follicle damage. This dual action—stimulating helpful signals while blocking harmful ones—creates a favorable environment for new hair growth.
The surprising role of the immune system
Another exciting finding was that ADF attracted immune cells called macrophages to the ski
n. These macrophages shifted into a healing form known as M2, which release substances that encourage tissue repair and blood vessel growth. By reshaping the immune environment around the follicles, ADF may help sustain hair regrowth and protect against further loss.
A possible new drug for alopecia
The researchers also suggested that ADF interacts with the adenosine A2A receptor, a molecular switch already known to influence hair growth. Interestingly, this is the same pathway through which minoxidil works, but fullerene C60 may act more effectively and with fewer side effects. Molecular modeling confirmed that the spherical structure of C60 fits into the receptor in a way that could activate it, enhancing anti-inflammatory effects and stimulating follicle activity.
Conclusion
This breakthrough offers real hope for millions suffering from alopecia. Unlike existing drugs that only slow loss or provide patchy regrowth, fullerene C60 showed long-lasting effects even after treatment ended. By boosting growth pathways, reducing damaging inflammation, and reshaping the immune environment, it could lead to a completely new class of safe and effective hair restoration therapies. However, more studies in humans are needed before it can be developed into a clinical product. If confirmed, fullerene C60 might finally provide a dependable solution to hair loss.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/17/8517
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