Decolorized Microalgae Polysaccharides for Stain-Free Skin Care
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies lack effective methods for producing polysaccharides from microalgae that are free from pigmentation, particularly red or green pigments, which can stain human skin, while maintaining high cosmeceutical and nutraceutical values.
Innovation Solution
The production of microalgal polysaccharides involves culturing microalgae under high light irradiance with limiting nitrogen levels, decolorization through chemical mutagenesis or gene insertion/deletion, and recombinant gene expression to reduce or eliminate pigmentation, resulting in polysaccharides that are free from substantial pigmentation and high in cosmeceutical/nutraceutical components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If microalgae are cultured under normal conditions, then biomass is produced with high pigment content, but the pigments stain human skin making the product unsuitable for cosmetic use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the harmful pigments from the microalgal biomass through a series of extraction and purification steps. The polysaccharides are isolated from the pigmented biomass, and the pigments are separated out, leaving a purified polysaccharide product that does not stain skin while maintaining the beneficial cosmeceutical properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs chemical mutagenesis and gene insertion/deletion to alter the genetic parameters of microalgae, resulting in strains that produce reduced levels of pigments. This genetic modification changes the biochemical parameters of the algae to achieve lower pigment content while maintaining polysaccharide production.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If chemical mutagenesis or gene modification is used to reduce pigmentation, then skin staining is eliminated, but the complexity of the production process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs genetic modification and pigment reduction as preliminary actions before the main polysaccharide production process. By pre-modifying the microalgal strains to have reduced pigment content, the subsequent production and purification processes are simplified, as less pigment removal is required.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If high light irradiance and limiting nitrogen levels are used, then pigmentation is reduced and cosmeceutical value increases, but the culture conditions become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the cultural parameters by applying high light irradiance and limiting nitrogen levels in the growth medium. These parameter changes suppress pigment synthesis in the microalgae while promoting polysaccharide accumulation, thereby reducing skin-staining potential and enhancing cosmeceutical value through controlled environmental conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach yields polysaccharides that are free from red or green pigmentation, maintaining high antioxidant and moisturizing properties, suitable for use in skin care products without staining human skin, and can be formulated into topical applications for improved skin appearance.
Implementation Method 1
culturing microalgae under high light irradiance with limiting nitrogen levels
Implementation Method 2
drying the microalgal exopolysaccharide to form a film by heating the microalgal exopolysaccharide at a temperature in a range from about 135°C to about 160°C
Data Source
Figure 1a~1d
Figure 2
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AI summary
Provided herein are microalgal skin care compositions and methods of improving the health and appearance of skin. Also provided are methods of using polysaccharides for applications such as topical personal care products, cosmetics, and wrinkle reduction compositions. The invention also provides novel decolorized microalgal compositions useful for improving the health and appearance of skin. The invention also includes insoluble polysaccharide particles for application to human skin.