New cosmetic concepts
The human skin acts as the organismīs barrier organ against the environment. Dysfunction and skin irritation often occur due to age-related changes and a multitude of damaging environmental factors. Phenion is developing new concepts and searching for innovative agents in order to support Henkelīs product portfolio.
Anti-Inflammatory Skin Agents
Phenion is working with the Frankfurt-based biotech company BioSpring GmbH on the development of new nucleic acid derivatives for agents applied externally to soothe the skin and against skin infections. Over the course of this project appropriate candidate agents are synthesized and among other things characterized in the Phenion® Full Thickness Skin Model. This research project is sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research within the framework of the research promotion programme BioChancePLUS.
Osmo-Protective Skin Agents
Phenion has developed substances which protect the skin from osmotic stress. Dry, chapped or irritated skin is often rough or cracked and cannot completely ensure the protective function of intact skin. This leads to a loss of moisture as well as a concentration of salts in the skin. Such conditions lead to an outflux of water from the skin cells. Cells are exposed to a stress situation which can lead to a decrease in vitality through this process of osmosis. Skin cells designated as osmolyte substances are absorbed into the interior of the cell by means of an active process. Through the absorption of Phenion®-Osmolyte, developed by Phenion, skin cells are capable of keeping their cell volume constant under high salt conditions without a loss of water. Phenion®-Osmolyte brings about an increase of cell vitality, protection against cell death and the decrease of the release of inflammatory messengers in osmotically stressed skin cells. These osmolytes can easily reach deep layers of the epidermis because of their lipophile characteristics. In this way Phenion has been able to develop an entirely new protection concept for the skin.