Is Emotional Stress Causing Skin Problems? Zhangjiang’s Cutting-Edge Forum Offers Solutions!

With rapid advances in global gene editing and artificial intelligence, synthetic biology has emerged as a burgeoning interdisciplinary field, becoming a key area of competition among leading nations in science and technology. Aimed at “programming” living cells, synthetic biology can be leveraged to produce synthetic raw materials. In the beauty and cosmetics sector, this technology enables more precise control over product ingredients and efficacy, heralding a new era in beauty. According to statistics, the global cosmetics ingredients market is valued at approximately $28.5 billion, with bio-based products accounting for about 40%.

To drive the application and development of synthetic biology in the beauty industry, the “New Productive Peptides of WIJ, Biosynthetic Future” – the 2nd Frontier Forum on Peptides and Skin Health, organized by WIJ Healthcare (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “WIJ Healthcare”), kicked off on October 21 at the Zhangjiang Science Hall. As part of the 2024 Zhangjiang Life Science International Innovation Summit Series, the forum gathered experts and scholars in skin health to focus on the research and application of synthetic biology in cosmetics and beauty. The event featured keynote speeches and discussions, fostering intellectual exchange on the future of beauty. WIJ Healthcare also unveiled two of its latest flagship products, offering live product demonstrations for attendees.

The event was held under the guidance of the Shanghai Pudong New Area Science and Technology and Economic Commission and the Zhangjiang Science City Construction Management Office, and was supported by Shanghai Pudong Life Science Industry Development Co., Ltd., the Shanghai Synthetic Biology Industry Association, and the Pudong New Area Bioindustry Association.

Distinguished attendees included Liu Gang, Deputy General Manager of Shanghai Pudong Life Science Industry Development Co., Ltd.; Wang Daiqi, Secretary General of the Shanghai Synthetic Biology Industry Association; Zhang Jingyi, Trade Officer at the New South Wales Government’s Trade & Investment Office in Australia; Professor Liu Wei, Advisor to the Dermatology Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association; and Professor Yang Sheng, Senior Expert from the Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Keynote Address:

Building a World-Class Biopharmaceutical Cluster through Synthetic Biology

In his keynote address, Liu Gang, Deputy General Manager of Shanghai Pudong Life Science Industry Development Co., Ltd., noted that the Zhangjiang Life Science International Innovation Summit has successfully been held for three consecutive years. The summit serves as a global platform to promote the biopharmaceutical industry in Pudong, showcasing cutting-edge innovations and fostering collaboration within key industries. He stressed that WIJ Healthcare’s 2nd Frontier Forum on Peptides and Skin Health, as part of this year’s summit, represents forward-looking thinking in the synthetic biology field, playing a crucial role in advancing this cutting-edge discipline.

Liu emphasized that Pudong New Area has prioritized the development of the biopharmaceutical industry, with Zhangjiang Science City becoming a leading hub with a fully integrated biopharmaceutical industrial chain, an abundance of talent, and a dynamic innovation environment. Pudong is committed to strengthening institutional innovation and fostering a vibrant business ecosystem. Zhangjiang looks forward to partnering with more entrepreneurs, scientists, and investors to drive innovation in science and technology and bring these advancements to the global stage.

Following Liu’s speech, Liu Zhenzhen, Vice President of Haoyue Capital, emphasized the significance of the forum’s theme, “New Productive Peptides of WIJ, Biosynthetic Future”. She highlighted that peptide innovations represent the forefront of exploring new bioactive peptides with excellent performance and broad application scenarios, unlocking vast potential in nature. Looking ahead, the vision of a biosynthetic future underscores a commitment to transforming peptides into practical applications that improve human life. As a representative of the capital sector, Haoyue Capital is dedicated to supporting deeper integration of industry, academia, and research, turning the vision of “New Productive Peptides of WIJ, Biosynthetic Future” into reality.

Industry Insights:

Experts Shed Light on the Intersection of Science and Beauty

The forum also featured presentations from leading experts, who shared insights into the applications of synthetic biology in the beauty and wellness sectors, particularly in skincare. The discussions provided valuable perspectives on the latest research findings in this field.

Liu Wei, Advisor to the Dermatology Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, delivered a presentation on“The Pathogenesis of Acne and Sebaceous Gland Regulation”. He explored the mechanisms behind acne development and the scientific approaches to treating the condition. Professor Liu introduced WIJ Healthcare’s product, which combines Prunella vulgaris extract with yeast zinc, noting its significant anti-inflammatory properties and low irritation, making it a promising raw material for acne-control cosmetics.

Wang Jing, Vice Dean of the School of Chemical and Material Engineering at Jiangnan University and Director of the WIJ Healthcare-Jiangnan University Joint Research Center for Beauty Science, delivered a presentation on “Active Ingredients and Neuro-Cosmetics”. He detailed the close connection between active ingredients and neuro-cosmetics, highlighting that skin condition significantly influences emotional well-being, and the rising demand for emotional skincare products stems from the need to address emotional health issues. The skin responds to neural signals, and under stress and anxiety, the adrenal cortex releases high levels of cortisol, which can affect the skin and other organs. By incorporating ingredients that can influence skin’s neural signaling or interact with skin and nerves, cosmetics can promote skin balance, achieving anti-wrinkle, soothing, and anti-aging effects, thus improving skin health.

Wang emphasized that the concept of “cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals” is becoming a significant trend in the beauty industry. “Cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals” refers to ingredients that can be used both in food products and cosmetics, subject to strict registration and safety assessments. Prunella vulgaris is a novel ingredient in neuro-cosmetics that exemplifies this trend.

Gao Botao, Director of the Biomedical Materials Research Laboratory at the Guangdong Academy of Sciences, shared insights on “New Wound Dressing Development in the Context of Aging”. He pointed out that the next 30 years will see rapid intensification of global aging, with elderly patients often experiencing slower wound healing, reduced vascularization capacity, and tissue damage related to tumors or infectious diseases. Traditional dressings struggle to achieve optimal results, while current wound treatments face challenges such as insufficient material activity and the high cost of advanced materials. To address these issues, his team has innovatively developed composite polysaccharide hydrogels, Janus-type wound dressings, and anti-cancer, pro-repair integrated cellular membranes. These innovations have been translated into applications such as new cellular membrane technologies, hemostatic sponges, conductive hydrogels, and scalable production of microspheres, offering solutions for improving elderly skin health.

Product Launch and Panel Discussion:

WIJ Healthcare Unveils Two New Products to Address Skin Issues Stemming from Emotional Stress

At the forum, WIJ Healthcare showcased a wide range of cosmetic products in the product experience zone, including beauty serums, three-in-one creams, moisturizing lotions, herbal gels, and anti-inflammatory, oil-control repair shampoos. As a rising star in synthetic biology, WIJ Healthcare focuses on developing anti-aging, antioxidant life science products, with applications in cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals. Several new ingredients and products, such as PptRepair^TM and Orchid Heard^TM have already been launched.

During the forum, WIJ Healthcare unveiled two newly developed “green” products: the herbal extract-based PureStar™️ 1.0 and the proprietary blend PureStar™️ 2.0. Both products are based on the traditional herbal ingredient, Prunella vulgaris.

Explaining the choice of Prunella vulgaris, WIJ Healthcare Founder and CEO Li Na said, “In recent years, the impact of emotional stress on skin health has drawn increasing attention. We wanted to develop a product that addresses skin health issues caused by emotional stress”. She added that the inspiration for the product stemmed from the realization that nature can help reduce stress and boost the release of endorphins. By using natural herbal ingredients, WIJ Healthcare aimed to create active ingredients that harness plant properties for stress relief. Through in-depth research, the team identified Prunella vulgaris, a member of the mint family, as an ideal solution. With a long history of medicinal use, Prunella vulgaris is known for its anti-inflammatory, blood pressure-lowering, and blood sugar-regulating properties. WIJ Healthcare sourced premium Prunella vulgaris flower spikes, with the resulting extract for PureStar™️ 1.0 containing total saponins and flavonoids at a concentration of 3000-3500ppm.

According to Zhu Li, Co-founder and Head of Research and Development at WIJ Healthcare, efficacy evaluations revealed that PureStar™️ 1.0 effectively targets and inhibits the key enzyme 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase, which is responsible for cortisol synthesis, significantly reducing cortisol levels induced by stress. Additionally, the 100% plant-based PureStar™️ 1.0 demonstrates excellent oil control, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and redness-reducing properties.

Furthermore, another functional cosmetic ingredient, PureStar™️ 2.0, is exclusively developed by combining yeast zinc enriched with peptide zinc, offering a blend of the restorative properties of organic zinc and peptides. By integrating it with Prunella vulgaris extract, PureStar™️ 2.0 delivers superior barrier repair benefits, creating a synergistic effect through the powerful combination of these three ingredients.

In the final roundtable discussion, WIJ Healthcare Founder and CEO Li Na, He Chuanwu, General Manager of Oriental Beauty Valley Testing and Inspection Co., Ltd., Xiao Hua, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Shanghai Junshi Life Science Research Institute, Wang Daiqi, Secretary General of the Shanghai Synthetic Biology Industry Association, and Liu Zhenzhen, Vice President of Haoyue Capital, engaged in a dialogue on the theme of innovation in plant extracts and peptide-based cosmetic ingredients with Chinese characteristics. They explored the current state and future development of functional cosmetic ingredients derived from synthetic biology technology, focusing on aspects such as technology, efficacy, safety, and commercialization, with the goal of better empowering industry growth.