Visible-to-near IR quantum dot-based hypermulticolor high-content screening of herbal medicines for the efficacy monitoring of hair growth promotion and hair loss inhibition

J Biomol Screen. 2013 Apr;18(4):462-73. doi: 10.1177/1087057112464574. Epub 2012 Nov 27.

Abstract

There is a growing interest in alopecia prevention strategies, as the number of alopecia patients is increasing. We examine the efficacy of herbal medicine for hair growth promotion/hair loss inhibition in two cell lines via Western blot and high-content screening (HCS). Nine herbal extracts were obtained from three different herbal medicine mixtures using 3 different extraction methods. Five target proteins-IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1), TGF-β2 (transforming growth factor-β2), VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), DKK-1 (Dickkopf-1), and Wnt5α-were observed for the assessment of hair growth promotion/hair loss inhibition efficacy. The efficacies of nine extracts were compared with minoxidil as control. Efficacy was defined as a rise in the expression levels of IGF-1, VEGF, and Wnt5α but a decrease in DKK-1 and TGF-β2. Intracellular concurrent imaging of these proteins was successfully achieved using HCS, employing visible-to-near infrared probing based on quantum-antibody conjugates and hypermulticolor imaging.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alopecia / drug therapy*
  • Alopecia / prevention & control*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Hair / drug effects
  • Hair / growth & development*
  • Hair Follicle / cytology
  • Hair Follicle / drug effects
  • Hair Follicle / metabolism
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays / methods*
  • Humans
  • Keratinocytes / cytology
  • Keratinocytes / drug effects
  • Keratinocytes / metabolism
  • Minoxidil / pharmacology
  • Phytotherapy
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry*
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Quantum Dots*
  • Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects
  • Up-Regulation / genetics

Substances

  • Plant Extracts
  • Proteins
  • Minoxidil