Background

Urban and domestic pollution promotes skin aging and tissue impairment as well the development of skin cancer. Furthermore, environmental toxins increase the damaging effects of sunlight. The resulting damage is manifested in the destruction of the lipid barrier and in oxidative cell membrane damage in the epidermis and dermis.

Technology Overview

The University has developed a cell-free system that can be used to visualize such environmental damage to cell membranes, and to measure and test whether skin care products have a protective effect in this situation. With vesicles formulated from defined non-oxidizable (“calibrator”) and oxidizable (“sensor”) lipids which are included in the test model, membrane damage caused by various pollutants and ultraviolet radiation as well the protective effect of skin care products can be visualized by evaluating the sensor and calibrator lipids and their oxidation products using mass spectrometry ().

Benefits

Can be used to map and quantify the contamination /UV damage to cell membranes
Efficient test system of skin care products, ingredients and cosmetics
Cell free assay system
Tests can be produced within a fraction of time and financial effort

Applications

Research
Analysis tool

776.18

Opportunity

Cooperation /License agreement

Lipid Vesicles as Oxidative Stress Sensors

Patents

IP Status

Seeking