The work of Silab's advanced research department and Dr Florence Ruggiero's* research team on dermal segmentation and its matrisome has been recognized by the international scientific community with the publication of a letter to the editor in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology (JID).

A major scientific discovery on the papillary and reticular dermis

The upper dermis, known as the papillary dermis, and the deeper dermis, known as the reticular dermis, are structurally and functionally different. Fibroblasts, the cells responsible for extracellular matrix synthesis, are thought to be at the origin of this segmentation.
"Segmentation of the dermis is a biological research signature dear to Silab " says Brigitte Closs, Executive Vice President, Research and Development, Silab. "When we started working on this subject in 2007, we naturally approached Dr Florence Ruggiero, CNRS Research Director, and her collaborators, recognized worldwide for their expertise in extracellular matrix biology."
Dr Florence Ruggiero's research team and the Silab advanced research department have demonstrated for the first time the signature of a specific gene expression in papillary and reticular fibroblasts in relation to the matrisome, defined as the set of genes coding for extracellular matrix proteins and its associated proteins.
"This letter to the editor in one of the most prestigious scientific dermatology journals is indisputable recognition of the quality of the research work carried out by the two teams. It reinforces our expertise in this field and opens up new prospects for the development of innovative, high-performance natural cosmetic solutions, particularly in the fight against skin ageing. It could also have bioengineering repercussions of skin substitutes to make them ever closer to the physiological reality of the skin." concludes Brigitte Closs.

Efficiency and responsibility: the cosmetic industry gives Passioline, a new repairing and soothing cosmetic active ingredient from the French independent pharmaceutical and dermo-cosmetic laboratory Expanscience, a double recognition.
At the last exhibition In-Cosmestics 2017 (London), Expanscience won the "Gold Innovation Zone Best Ingredient Award" which recognizes the innovative functionalities of its asset for manufacturers and end-users. Passioline has also just won at the Supplier's Day 2017 (New York City), the "Sustainability Award" for its development in respect of people and the environment.
Concentrate of precious molecules of virgin Maracuja oil, Passioline is developed from maracuja seeds (Passiflora edulis) discarded by the Peruvian food industry. These noble molecules are concentrated through molecular distillation, an exclusive know-how of Laboratoires Expanscience. By stimulating the biological markers involved in healing, this active ingredient repairs, restructures and soothes weakened or damaged skin.
" These two awards recognize both our know-how in innovation and our involvement in the eco-design of our assets "explains Armelle Le Peniec, Director of Laboratoires Expanscience's cosmetic active ingredients business.

Passioline: an asset emblematic of Expanscience's CSR approach

Expanscience, a member of the UEBT (Union for Ethical BioTrade) since 2011, has been deploying its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy for over ten years. This policy was recognized as exemplary by the AFAQ 26000 in 2013. Anxious to provide quality active ingredients but also respectful of the principles dictated by the Nagoya Protocol (text that came into force on October 12, 2014), Expanscience anticipated these rules as early as 2010 by defining its own responsible plant supply chain policy.
The key issue for the company is to secure its supplies, both for the sustainability of its customers and its partners. Expanscience, which has acquired its historical partner Deshidratados Tropicales in Peru, controls the entire chain up to the finished product, and has all the levers of action to benefit from the commitments made in the framework of its Better Living Program.
This responsible supply chain enables the company to secure its supplies of vegetable raw materials (avocado, maca, maracuja) and to strengthen the traceability, quality and safety of its products while taking concrete action to contribute to the development of the economic and social fabric of local producers.
" These actions, consistent with our CSR approach, allow us to protect the environment and encourage good cultural practices inherited from the past. Overall, it is a whole local economy that is boosted through the act of buying plants and the creation of jobs. Passioline is the fruit of this ecosystem that we have carefully developed to offer the richness of this concentrate "concludes Armelle Le Peniec.

StratiCELL, a Belgian subsidiary of PAT (Plant Advanced Technologies) specialized in objectification tests in vitrohas just launched an innervated reconstructed epidermis project, combining its skills with those of Neuron Experts (Marseille, FR) and Neuroservice (Aix-en-Provence, FR).
Once perfected, this new objectification model in vitro of active ingredients including human sensory neurons will be marketed as part of a range of services focusing on sensations of well-being and soothing of the skin, pain and pruritus.
This model is part of the "IMPROVE" project, which aims to design and develop in vitro 3D skin models of increasing complexity, dedicated to the evaluation of cosmetic, neuro-sensory and dermo-pharmaceutical products.
The Walloon region (Belgium) will part-finance this R&D project to the tune of 760,000 euros over 3 years - an amount which will significantly boost its R&D and innovation capacities. Eventually, these innovative reconstructed skin models will be integrated into StratiCELL's service activity, with a considerable expected impact on the sales of this PAT subsidiary..