title: Biology of human hair: know your hair to control it.
abstract: Hair can be engineered at different levels--its structure and surface--through modification of its constituent molecules, in particular proteins, but also the hair follicle (HF) can be genetically altered, in particular with the advent of siRNA-based applications. General aspects of hair biology are reviewed, as well as the most recent contributions to understanding hair pigmentation and the regulation of hair development. Focus will also be placed on the techniques developed specifically for delivering compounds of varying chemical nature to the HF, indicating methods for genetic/biochemical modulation of HF components for the treatment of hair diseases. Finally, hair fiber structure and chemical characteristics will be discussed as targets for keratin surface functionalization.
authors.affiliation: CBMA-Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Margarida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cavaco-Paulo
authors.forename: Andreia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gomes
mesh_terms: D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000379:methods*; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006201:Hair Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006203:Hair Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: D006203:Hair Preparations