Silica microparticles for enhanced delivery of ingredients to hair follicles

Overview

Z-pods, a silica-based microparticle platform, is designed to enhance the delivery of active ingredients into hair follicles and the epidermis. This technology enables sustained release of loaded cosmetic or pharmaceutical actives, optimizing their penetration and efficacy. Z-pods have been clinically proven to improve hair growth, as demonstrated by a 20% increase with a Y100-loaded formulation. Designed for incorporation into various hair or scalp care products, Z-pods offer a competitive edge by delivering active ingredients more effectively than current market solutions.

Technical specifications

Key features:

• Silica-based microparticles capable of sustained release over 12-24 hours
• Enhanced penetration into viable epidermal cells, increasing delivery by factors of up to 6
• Proven to enhance hair follicle targeting, with a 25% targeting factor for certain formulations
• Compatible with a variety of hair growth and treatment actives
• Successfully tested in clinical and ex vivo studies, confirming improved efficacy and targeting

Technology readiness level

This technology is at TRL 9, indicating it is fully developed and validated through clinical studies. Future work will focus on optimizing particle size and active loading, aiming to further enhance follicular targeting and efficacy.