P&G invests in Singapore's 3-D human skin research
P&G has revealed that the investment in artificial skin will allow it to test the efficacy and toxicity of its new formulations, including cosmetics.
The $44m programme is an extension of a partnership initially developed between the personal care player and the Singapore government agency in 2010.
“We have a number of different in vitro skin models we’re working on because we are very involved in beauty care. If companies are doing innovation and interested in new tools, then bioprinting should very much be on their horizon," says Professor Elena Lurie-Luke, head of P&G’s Global Life Sciences Open Innovation business.
The agency also known as A*STAR, has invited scientists from 25 research institutes in Singapore to apply for grants associated with the project.
To create artificial skin, a 3-D printer would deliver skin cells and hydrogel, layer by vertical layer, into patterns that promote skin-tissue growth.
L'Oreal also investing in 3D
Last month, we reported that L’Oreal had joined forces with a 3D human tissue company gaining the exclusive right to use the skin tissue models developed by Organovo for the “development, manufacturing, testing, evaluation and sale of non-prescription cosmetic, beauty, dermatology and skin care products.”
Know-how from the two corporations will be merged as researchers from L’Oréal’s Technology Incubator work with the team at Organovo.
"Organovo has broken new ground with 3-D bioprinting, an area that complements L'Oréal's pioneering work in the research and application of reconstructed skin for the past 30 years,” Guive Balooch, global vice president of the incubator said at the time.
“Under the Agreement, L’Oréal will have the exclusive right to use the skin tissue models for the development, manufacturing, testing, evaluation and sale of non-prescription cosmetic, beauty, dermatology and skin care products,” the SEC filing outlined.