ACT4 Cosmetic Innovation

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An active-ingredient delivery platform meets bacterial cellulose to explore new cosmetic solutions.

Formulating functional cosmetic ingredients requires attention to stability, component compatibility and how active ingredients are distributed and made available during application.

Many molecules of cosmetic interest are lipophilic and difficult to disperse in predominantly aqueous formulations. The ACT4 platform addresses this challenge through submicrometre emulsions designed to incorporate and stabilise lipophilic active ingredients.

ACT4 developed a cosmetic cream prototype that combines an antioxidant ingredient delivered through its platform with a bacterial-cellulose matrix.

Bacterial cellulose is a biomaterial with a three-dimensional structure that can be investigated as a carrier and to manage ingredient distribution within a formulation. In ACT4’s prototype, this matrix was explored as a functional component for containing the nanoemulsion and contributing to the stability of the final formulation.

Integrating the nanoemulsion into bacterial cellulose offers the possibility of combining the delivery properties of the ACT4 platform with the structural characteristics of the biomaterial. The system was designed to explore two main objectives:

The matrix may help contain and organise the formulation phase, with the aim of improving overall product stability. The extent of this contribution must be assessed through comparative testing of the final formulation.

The matrix structure can be studied to modulate nanoemulsion diffusion during skin application. Actual release and its duration depend on formulation composition and properties and must be confirmed through dedicated tests.

This project illustrates ACT4’s interdisciplinary approach: combining delivery technologies and biomaterials to develop applications beyond simply adding an ingredient to a cream.

The aim is to explore formulations in which the delivery system and carrier matrix work together, opening new opportunities in cosmetic product design.

ACT4 welcomes collaboration with cosmetic companies, ingredient manufacturers, formulation laboratories and scientific partners to evaluate new applications of the platform.

Contact us to develop a cosmetic innovation project.