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Measles, Mumps and Acne?

Chun-Ming (Eric) Huang, PhD, and his team at the University of California, San Diego, have developed what they believe to be a vaccine for acne.

Ian Burgess

Nanocrystal Liquid Identification

Watermark Ink (W-Ink) utilizes chemical and optical properties of nanostructured materials to distinguish liquids based on surface tension. The nanostructured material is called an inverse opal, which is a layered glass structure with an internal network of ordered, interconnected air pores.

Desmosomes: Adhesion Answers to Skin

Garrod became interested in cell adhesion after reading a paper on the differential adhesion hypothesis by Malcolm Steinberg, and he more recently discovered the mechanism that allows these structures to tightly bind cells together.

Seeing Through Natural Fragrances

Joining in the eco-responsible effort is The Robertet Group, a fragrance and flavor house that has created Seed to Scent (S2S), a program offering transparency to the consumer as to where and how its fragrance materials are produced.

Signaling Skin pH with Indicator Dyes

Gerhard Mohr, PhD, head of the sensor materials group at The Fraunhofer Research Institution for Modular Solid State Technologies (EMFT), has developed dyes for wound dressings that change color when they detect infection. Interestingly, initial research for this wound-healing application originated in the water treatment field.

Winds of Change

In many companies, thinking outside of the proverbial box is encouraged year-round; but in the last few months, innovation has notably been emphasized in event themes and even government agency efforts.

Better Bonds from Mollusk Chemistry

Most consumer attention to oysters and mussels has centered on their taste, beautiful by-products or aphrodisiac effects; however, their adhesive properties are what caught the attention of Jonathan Wilker. These properties could be adapted for personal care.

Comparatively Speaking: Simple Salt vs. Ionic Liquid

Unlike common salts, ionic liquids are salts in which the ions are poorly coordinated, resulting in molecules that are liquid below 100°C. The use of ionic liquids will aid the formulator in improving delivery efficiency.

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MWSCC Thinks Outside the Box

Unconventional thinking was encouraged by the Midwest chapter of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists (MWSCC) at its 2010 Technical Symposium, which took place on Oct. 26, 2010, in Itasca, Illinois USA.

Electrifying Skin Delivery

Iontophoresis is a well-known, noninvasive method that uses a small electric charge to deliver chemicals through the skin. However, according to Gregory Schultz, PhD, and Daniel Gibson, a professor and doctoral candidate, respectively, at the University of Florida, this method of delivery can have its drawbacks. Together with co-inventor, Sonal Sanjeev Tuli, MD, the team developed a method to iontophorese macromolecules into tissue such as the skin without causing damage; however, initial research focused on the eye.

Patent Picks—Copper-bound Botanicals, Skin Pigment Regulation, Antioxidants and More

Chosen biweekly by Rachel Grabenhofer, editor, for their relevance to personal care, Patent Picks are taken from publicly available sources. This edition features recently issued patents relevant to skin care and health.

Cellulosic Propylene Glycol Production

Walter Trahanovsky, PhD, a professor at Iowa State University's department of chemistry, and his team have developed a method to convert cellulose to glucose using pressure and high temperatures, but he was surprised to find the method also produced ethylene glycol and propylene glycol—two high value chemicals, one a major component in skin care products.

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Sonically Infusing Eye Products

Many mothers have taught their daughters to apply creams, lotions and serums on the eye area using a light dabbing motion. Studying this motion, Robb Akridge, PhD, developed a device to sonically infuse eye products into the skin.

Formulating Ferulic Acid for Antioxidation

Joseph Laszlo, PhD, lead scientist for the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Biocatalytic Functionalization of Plant Lipids project, and his team have developed a process through which vegetable oil, in this case soybean oil, can be given antioxidant and UVA/UVB protective capabilities.

Unexpected Lessons in Dermatotoxicology: De minimis Magnesium++

Traditional dermatotoxicologic investigations focus on dermatitis as well as potential systemic effects1 but rarely have they focused on trace ions. The following lesson opens new avenues of thought and investigation for intimate care product developers, since the trace ions described may dramatically impact the end product.

Diet for Better Skin Health

Paula Simpson, executive director of Isocell North America, firmly believes in “feeding the skin from within.” As a nutritionist, Simpson has made a career of advising consumers to follow a healthy diet and supplement it with nutraceuticals; more recently, she became involved where nutraceuticals and cosmetics meet—in nutricosmetics.

PFC for Oxygen Delivery to Skin

Research on perfluorocarbons (PFCs) began before World War II but it was the 1942 Manhattan Project in the United States to develop the atomic bomb that led to methods of producing PFCs other than reacting fluorine with hydrocarbon. As a result, PFCs have been adapted for a number of industries including traumatic brain injury, sickle cell crisis pain, trauma, wound care, decompression sickness, acute respiratory distress syndrome, stroke, myocardial infarction, surgery, diabetes and cosmetics.

Tooth Whitening Without Sensitization

Teeth whiteners are available as OTC strips and gels, but consumers seeking more immediate and dramatic effects often visit the dentist for an in-office procedure or take-home solution. In any case, many of these treatments increase tooth sensitivity and damage the gums, according to Raymond Frye, DMD, a cosmetic dentist and owner of Bling Dental. Therefore, he developed a whitening solution based on a combination of carbamide peroxide with a desensitizer.