Human skin is constantly exposed to outside elements, making it one of the most vulnerable organs. Factors that contribute to deterioration of the skin’s appearance include disease, injury, and age. Cosmetics companies seek new developments to improve skin appearance. The team has discovered that fibrin, the body’s first responder protein in wound healing, can encapsulate retinol, a popular active ingredient used in cosmetics. Fibrin can be degraded by bromelain, a natural enzyme, to control the release of retinol. This demonstrates the opportunity for fibrin’s use as a carrier for cosmetic product ingredients. The team developed an automated process for producing fibrin microthreads infused with active ingredients, which were converted into particles, incorporated into a topical cream.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• DeRubeis, Drew David
• Ruiz, Conrad M
• Delgorio, Peyton Lian

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042417-154637

Advisor

• Gaudette, Glenn R.
• Billiar, Kristen

Year

• 2017

Date created

• 2017-04-24

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biomedical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Interdisciplinary

Rights statement

• In Copyright