Utilizing nanotechnology in cosmetics and applying it on an industrial scale. This was one of the challenges undertaken in the partnership between Natura and the Technological Research Institute (IPT). The nanoencapsulation project joins other initiatives that are also promoted in cooperation with the IPT, such as the biotechnology project that seeks alternatives for reusing waste from Natura's production process.
The IPT is a research institute linked to the Secretariat of Economic Development, Science, Technology, and Innovation of the State of São Paulo. The entity's mission is to provide technological solutions and services that increase the competitiveness of companies and promote quality of life. It was with this proposal that the partnership with Natura began when, in 2012, the institute joined a project from the company.
“In this project, we managed to apply nanotechnology in cosmetics and reproduce it on an industrial scale, which is still something very little explored in Brazil,” explains Juliana Alencastre from Natura's Advanced Research Directorate.
Researcher at the IPT's Bionanomanufacturing Center, Adriano Marim highlights the relevance of this research for the evolution of applied nanotechnology in the country. “This partnership with Natura gives us the opportunity to apply scientific knowledge in an industrial environment, with large-scale production, machines, and equipment that allow us to conduct tests with greater reach,” he emphasizes.
As part of the project, in vitro tests and analyses were conducted, which evolved to the realization of tests on humans. The technology is not yet ready to go to market, but it continues to be improved. “It is a very disruptive technology that had not been tested in cosmetics yet, and we managed to achieve a robust evolution. Three patents with the results of this development have been filed,” emphasizes Juliana.
In addition to this specific initiative, Natura is also part of a consortium led by IPT that involves four cosmetic companies and receives funding from the Brazilian Company of Industrial Innovation (EMBRAPII) to test the use of nanotechnology in the encapsulation of different active ingredients. “In the projects in partnership with Natura, it was possible to develop the nanoencapsulation route, evaluate the biological safety and the efficacy in vitro of the formulations, and scale up the production process, bringing nanotechnology closer to the industry,” reinforces Natalia Cerize, a researcher at IPT.
Partnership IPT and Natura from Natura Campus on Vimeo.
Development of the value chain of oilseeds from the Amazon
The projects involving nanotechnology are not the only ones developed in partnership with the IPT. In recent years, the institute has also been involved in another innovation initiative within Natura, now in the area of Biotechnology.
In this project, completed in 2015, the goal was to promote the reuse of waste from the manufacturing process of oilseed raw materials from Brazilian biodiversity, transforming them into inputs for cosmetic application, which would enable the closure of the entire value chain without waste. The initiative recently resulted in the IPT being awarded in the 2015 Cycle of iQLICAR, a program that recognizes Natura's innovation partners.
“We are talking about discovering new uses for waste from Brazilian biodiversity. It has been a great challenge to work on this project that is committed to some of Natura's pillars, sustainability, and sociobiodiversity. We selected some waste to work with and are developing a technology that allows us to transform them into something of greater added value, which can be reapplied instead of discarded,” summarizes Noemi Vieira from Natura's Advanced Research Directorate. Currently, the process and application developed are in the process of patent filing.
Patricia Leo, a researcher from the Industrial Biotechnology Laboratory who coordinated the project for IPT, reiterates the challenging nature of the proposal. “From a technical point of view, we are dealing with the innovation of producing a surfactant through a biotechnological route from waste of plants from the Amazon region, while the more common path is through chemical surfactants. From an institutional perspective, for IPT, it is stimulating to serve a reference company like Natura, globally known for its standard of excellence and innovative profile.”
With so much evolution in the partnerships, the trend is that more innovations will emerge from the relationship between IPT and Natura. “The IPT has this expertise in applied science, laboratories, and cutting-edge technology that can be applied in cosmetic research. Working in partnership with researchers only reinforces Natura's commitment to shared knowledge and sustainable development,” emphasizes Juliana Alencastre.
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