research topics:

• Evaluation of photoprotective properties of chemical compounds/cosmetic formulations
• Evaluation of photostability of chemical compounds/cosmetic formulations
• Evaluation of antioxidant properties of chemical compounds/extracts/preparations
• Evaluation of safety of compounds/extracts/preparations including: cytotoxicity (eg. hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity), genotoxicity and mutagenicity
• Evaluation of depigmenting activity (melanogenesisi inhibition) of chemical compounds/extracts/preparations
• Evaluation of skin absorption, skin irritation and skin phototoxic effect in an advanced model in vitro
• Simulation of metabolism of chemical compounds in in vitro models
• Evaluation of safety profile in cardiomyoblasts
• Evaluation of cardioprotective activity of compounds

Potential application of scientific research:

• Research on pure chemical compounds

• Research on plant extracts

• Research on cosmetic formulations eg. emulsions

test equipment:

• SPF-290AS Analyzer (Solar Light Company, Glenside, PA, USA)*
• Solar Light Simulator Suntest CPS+ (Atlas, Germany)*
• Microplate reader Spectramax ID3 (molecular Devices, San Jose, CA, USA)*
• Laminar air flow chambers
• Cell culture incubators
• Inverted microscope with fluorescence module and camera* (*equipment funded within National Science Center projects)

comercial research:

• Evaluation of photoprotective activity of chemical compounds – searching for new potential UV filters, determination of photoprotection parameters: SPF_{in vitro}, UVA PF, critical wavelength (λ_c), UVA/UVB protection ratio
• Evaluation of photostability of potential UV filters and other chemical compounds
• Searching for new melanogenesis inhibitors – compounds possessing potential for use in the enhancement of hyperpigmentations treatment
• Evaluation of safety of chemical compounds in regard of cytotoxicity in selected cell lines, as well as genotoxicity, and mutagenicity
• In vitro simulation of metabolism of xenobiotics
• Evaluation of antioxidant activity of chemical compounds/plant extracts

Research methods used:

• Determination of parameters of UVA protection of sunscreen cosmetic products – in vitro method (with modifications) PN-EN ISO 24443
• Determination of critical wavelength: Critical Wavelength (for EU Labeling) Boots Star Rating (for EU Labeling)
• Evaluation of skin irritation OECD (2019), Test No. 439: In Vitro Skin Irritation: Reconstructed Human Epidermis Test Method, OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals, Section 4, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264242845-en
• Evaluation of cytotoxicity on selected cell lines: MTT test,  PrestoBlue test (ThermoFisherScientific),  CytoTox (Promega) test
• Evaluation of proliferation activity of cells (test with crystal violet and BrdU test (Abcam))
• Evaluation of apoptosis process (caspase-3 and 7 tests, Promega)
• Cardioprotective activity: cardiomyoblasts model with doxorubicin-induced damage or oxygen stress-induced damage
• Evaluation of mutagenicity – Ames test (Xenometrix)
• Inhibition of tyrosinase (SigmaAldrich) in vitro
• Inhibition of melanin production in pigment skin cells
• DPPH test

experience / references / projects:

In the Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry  there are realized projects within basic research in cosmetology area which are funded by National Science Center in Kraków (‘Modern photoprotection - identification of the effective and safe UV filters in the groups of arylidenehydantoin and cinnamic acid derivatives’; (2017-2020); ‘Characteristics of the activity profile of new melanogenesis inhibitors in the groups  of cinnamic acid and xanthone derivatives (2019-2020)).

 

The cooperation with companies included so far services for AREO BW and INSIGNES LABS including safety evaluation (cytotoxicity, genotoxicity) and metabolism simulation in in vitro method of chemical compounds.

Completed orders:

• Evaluation of safety in liver cells and neuroblastoma cells (hepaotoxicity and neurotoxocity) by means of MTT test, Presto Blue test (ThermoFisherScientific) and CytoTox test (Promega)
• Evaluation of safety in skin cells (epidermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes by means of MTT test, Presto Blue test (ThermoFisherScientific) and CytoTox test (Promega)
• Evaluation of proliferation activity of cells (test with crystal violet and BrdU test (Abcam))
• Evaluation of apoptosis process (caspase-3 and 7 tests, Promega)
• Evaluation of mutagenicity – Ames test (Xenometrix)
• Evaluation of photostability of potential UV filters and other chemical compounds
• In vitro metabolism simulation

variants of cooperation:

type of services: