Presented by
Prof. Dr. Jixun Zhan

Viablife Biotech

Abstract

The cosmetics industry is increasingly seeking sustainable alternatives to conventionally manufactured ingredients while maintaining product quality, performance, and regulatory compliance. Advances in artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, and precision fermentation are creating new opportunities to redesign ingredient production using renewable resources. In this work, we demonstrate the power of this approach through the development of a fully bio-based production platform for niacinamide, one of the most widely used cosmetic active ingredients. AI-guided enzyme and pathway design enabled the creation of a novel biosynthetic route, including engineered enzymes not found in nature, which was integrated into a microbial production host. Through iterative metabolic engineering and fermentation optimization, the process was scaled to industrial manufacture using plant-derived feedstocks. The resulting niacinamide was certified as 100% bio-based by the USDA. This case study illustrates how AI-enabled synthetic biology can transform cosmetic ingredient manufacturing by enabling sustainable, scalable, and traceable production of high-value ingredients.

Presented by
Huifang Li, Ph.D.

University of Rhode Island

Abstract

Biotechnology is enabling increasingly precise approaches to cosmetic ingredient discovery and evaluation. This presentation introduces an integrated platform that combines siRNA-mediated gene silencing, quantitative proteomics, and AI-assisted analysis to investigate the mechanisms of action of anti-aging cosmetic actives. Using human dermal fibroblast senescence models, candidate genes associated with extracellular matrix regulation, oxidative stress, and inflammatory signaling are prioritized for functional evaluation. siRNA-mediated perturbation is then used to determine whether selected targets are required for the biological responses induced by cosmetic actives. Quantitative proteomic profiling can subsequently characterize system-level changes following gene silencing and compound treatment, while pathway and network analyses connect molecular perturbations with cellular phenotypes. This integrative approach links molecular target modulation to functional biological outcomes.

The presentation will demonstrate how this biotechnology-enabled framework can move cosmetic-active evaluation beyond descriptive biomarker measurements toward testable mechanistic hypotheses, supporting the development of mechanism-informed skincare ingredients and highlighting the growing role of functional proteomics in cosmetic science innovation.

Presented by
Dr. Junxiang Li

AGECODE / Tsinghua University

Abstract

How can large collagen molecules deliver biological signals when skin penetration remains a central concern? We investigate a microbiome-mediated activation hypothesis: skin commensals process collagen into short signaling peptides. Our model is recombinant human type XXI collagen, a distinctive endogenous collagen with stemness-promoting activity in mesenchymal stem cell assays. This makes it a biologically informative reservoir of natural signaling sequences. Incubation with Staphylococcus epidermidis, followed by peptidomics and functional screening, identified collagen-derived peptides with differentiated activities in cellular and explant models. Lead peptides enhanced collagen synthesis, supported stemness-associated cellular programs and extracellular matrix markers, or attenuated signaling between stressed keratinocytes and melanocytes. These findings support microbial proteolysis as a mechanistic route for unlocking collagen bioactivity, without assuming penetration of the intact protein. Harnessing this pathway enables discovery of sequence-defined collagen signaling peptides tailored to specific functions, connecting the biology of a distinctive collagen with microbiome-inspired activation and targeted cosmetic innovation.

Presented by
Dr. Estelle Loing

Næmos

Abstract

Discover how Precision Indoor Farming is opening new pathways for next-generation cosmetic biotechnology. This presentation explores an innovative approach combining controlled indoor cultivation, targeted plant elicitation, and green extraction to unlock the potential of Perilla frutescens (Red Shiso) microgreens as a high-performance cosmetic active. By precisely controlling cultivation conditions, we enhanced the production of key phenolic compounds while achieving substantially higher biomass yields than conventional farming. Immediate processing of fresh biomass through solvent-free, microwave-assisted aqueous extraction helped preserve its bioactive potential. Going beyond conventional antioxidant and UV-protection claims, the resulting extract introduces a holistic approach to skin ageing through a Skinome concept. Across experimental models, it supported multiple interconnected layers of skin health, including barrier function, lipidome, genome, proteome, and microbiome, while delivering visible improvements in wrinkles, sunspots, skin tone, and radiance. This work demonstrates how precision biotechnology can create traceable, climate-resilient and multifunctional cosmetic actives for a new generation of holistic anti-ageing solutions.