Compositions comprising polymeric networks comprising combinations of small molecule hair growth agents and natural products (e.g., vesicles, such as stem cell-derived exosomes) are described. The polymeric network can, for example, comprise keratin crosslinked via intermolecular disulfide bonds. Alternatively, the polymeric network can comprise keratin or a derivative thereof and another crosslinked hydrophilic polymer. Microneedles, microneedle arrays, and skin patches comprising the compositions are also described, as are methods of treating hair loss and/or promoting hair growth using the microneedles, microneedle arrays and/or skin patches.

Compositions comprising polymeric networks comprising combinations of small molecule hair growth agents and natural products (e.g., vesicles, such as stem cell-derived exosomes) are described. The polymeric network can, for example, comprise keratin crosslinked via intermolecular disulfide bonds. Alternatively, the polymeric network can comprise keratin or a derivative thereof and another crosslinked hydrophilic polymer. Microneedles, microneedle arrays, and skin patches comprising the compositions are also described, as are methods of treating hair loss and/or promoting hair growth using the microneedles, microneedle arrays and/or skin patches.

This invention relates to the field of keratin extraction and recovery from keratinous animal body parts (KABP) including, but not limited to, hair, wool, nails, skins, feathers, hooves, claws and other body parts. More specifically, the invention relates to processes to extract keratin from KABP and hydrolyze it to keratin hydrolysates (KHs) using a thermal hydrolysis process (THP) and recover KHs by membrane filtration, in particular, using shear wave-induced ultra- or nano-membrane filtration (SWIUF) or a combination of SWIUF and reverse osmosis (RO), to select given molecular weight (MW) fractions of the protein or KHs or/and to increase the concentration of protein or KHs.