The multifunctionality of cosmetic ingredients is a feature increasingly pursued by developments. In addition, the analytical ability to identify which benefits or efficacy claims can be attributed to a given ingredient, quickly and cost-effectively, is a present challenge.
Generally, a series of tests are necessary to understand which possibilities of effectiveness to explore: specific tests for anti-aging, moisturizing effect, calming, etc. We can finally get proof of benefit claims between trips to and from third-party labs.
- The new-age tools
To reduce costs and development time with different tests and also discover the full potential of our developments, we can make use of new-generation molecular tools.
Molecularly evaluating the response, at the cellular level, is a strategy for obtaining excellent efficacy and safety indicators for new ingredients and purification fractions, for example. The integrated approach must use genomics and proteomics techniques to evaluate the cellular response so that, after evaluation in bioinformatics, it can provide a valid answer. Evaluating only the differential expression of genes, completely forgetting proteomics, is demonstrated by the literature as not being the most adequate due to the interference of post-transcriptional actions, i.e. messenger RNA does not convert into protein and therefore does not become an apparent feature in the phenotype.
- Crop Biolabs approach
The efficacy screening methodology consists of an integrated approach to gene expression evaluation and proteomics profile characterization. Data are interconnected through a bioinformatics tool that compiles differentially expressed genes and proteins with different relative concentrations into efficacy claim indicators. For example, after exposing the test compound to the respective cell cultures, the tool identifies that the AQP1 and AQP2 genes are expressed with greater intensity when compared to the control. There is correspondence between this expression and the relative concentration of the proteins, it will deliver an indication that the efficacy claim of a moisturizing effect can be further investigated.
In this way, the tool provides information as shown in the video below:
Benefits of molecular screening
- Discover and unlock the full potential of your compost: molecular screening indicates all efficacy claims your compound may be linked to.
- Understand how to quickly and cost-effectively exploit benefits: with just one test and one cell exposure, save budget and time by quickly discovering efficacy claims you can exploit.
- Data quality and robustness: Through sophisticated techniques, fully understand how the test compound interacts and the feedback it causes on all genes and proteins.
About Crop Biolabs
Crop Biolabs is an integrated external R&D facility, specialized in a variety of preclinical and analytical services, external quality assessment, phenotypic and molecular assays for advanced therapeutics, pharmaceutical, cosmetic ingredients, and sanitizing companies, in addition to providing claim substantiation and safety evaluations from discovery to regulation for new solutions and bespoke products. Our mission is to collaborate with the technological maturation of products and developments in life sciences, either with a punctual service or with a complete R&D solution: from idea to impact.
Learn more about this new method and other Crop Biolabs services for cosmetics ingredients: https://cropbiolabs.com.br/cosmetic/
Author: Aruã Prundenciatti, CEO Crop Biolabs
