Human Practices
Background
Oxidation is an indispensable part of our body's physiological activities, but excessive oxidation can cause changes in multiple molecules, leading to a series of skin symptoms. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are toxic by-products of oxygen metabolism and are one of the "culprits" of excessive oxidation. Under environmental stress, ROS levels can increase sharply, causing serious damage to cell structures, a process also known as oxidative stress. Maintaining low levels of ROS helps maintain good skin condition and also aids in the normal healing of skin wounds and limits the formation of chronic inflammation.We hope to find more environmentally friendly and effective antioxidants to help people protect their skin and combat aging.
Questionnaire
We made a questionnaire which is public awareness of skin antioxidants and NAOS and market research on antioxidant products, and have collected 114 valid questionnaires.The survey was conducted to understand respondents' awareness of anti-aging skin care products, their usage and their views on anti-aging products on the market. The questionnaire covered respondents' experience with anti-aging products, their spending, their knowledge of product ingredients, and their evaluation of the pros and cons of products on the market. Through the questionnaire survey, we will be able to more comprehensively understand the consumer's attitude and demand for anti-aging products, and provide a reference for the future research and development and marketing of our results.
Analysis and Descriptions
According to the first question (Fig.1) of the questionnaire”Have you ever used anti-aging skin care products?”, 48.25% of the respondent said they have used and 51.75% said not.This indicate the market of anti-aging products takes a huge stage.Among the 55 people who use anti-aging products(Fig.2), 38.18% of them use essence anti-aging product which is most common choice. Also the data show (Fig.3) the image of these group of people, which has a 61.82% of women, 30.91% of man and 7.27% of non-binary people, indicating that women are the largest consumers of anti-aging products comparatively.
According to the survey report, more than half of the people did not use antioxidant products. From question 14 and 15( Fig.4),shows most of them are women, followed by some men and some non-binary gender. They're mostly teenagers or the adolescent period. The main reason is that they do not pay attention to skin care and maintenance, some think that the price is too high, and some say that their families do not let them use. ( Fig.5)For young people, antioxidants are really not a necessity.
However, according to question 11 (fig.6) nearly 80% of them are willing to use the antioxidant products developed by us. They strongly support the innovation of high school students and are willing to try them if safety can be guaranteed and experimental data are available to support them. And a small number of people are not willing to try the main reason is usually do not use skin care products or hope to have expert opinion support. (fig.7) The data can clearly support the feasibility and value of the research and development of antioxidant products.
Regarding the advantages and disadvantages of existing skin care products,( Fig.8) it can be found that people generally believe that skin care products have no obvious advantages, while the disadvantages are listed one by one, such as too expensive, false publicity, insufficient efficacy, allergy and so on. It can be seen that it is necessary to develop new products, and we must also take these factors into account to develop more satisfactory products for the public.
Interviews about related products
1. Interview with Ms. Song
Ms. Song, graduated from Zhejiang University, has worked in the human resources Department of the bank for many years. In the interview, Ms. Song expressed her belief that antioxidant sunscreens have great potential, especially in terms of skin antioxidation and reducing free radical production, which she considers essential functions in skincare products. She also pointed out that both physical and chemical sunscreens have their pros and cons, and an ideal sunscreen should balance safety and effectiveness. Ms. Song hopes that a sunscreen’s core function would be to prevent tanning, while also offering antioxidant benefits, reducing free radicals, providing long-lasting protection without smudging, being non-greasy, not causing allergic reactions, and remaining reasonably priced.
2. Interview with Dr. Mou
Dr. Mou Qing, a dermatologist with a Bachelor's degree from Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and currently working as a Resident Physician at Hangzhou Red Cross Hospital in the Department of Dermatology. She specializes in diagnosing and treating common dermatological diseases such as psoriasis, hand eczema, dermatitis, skin allergies, and skin infections.
Dr. Mou believes that antioxidant skincare products usually have multiple functions and are closely associated with whitening and anti-aging effects. Their applications are diverse, including topical use, oral supplements, and intravenous administration. In her daily routine, Dr. Mou uses moisturizing and sun protection products, preferring those that are non-irritating and provide good hydration. However, she cautions that functional products, such as those with antioxidant properties, may have negative effects on sensitive skin. When selecting skincare products, she recommends prioritizing non-irritating, moisturizing products and avoiding strong functional products.
During our product development phase, Dr. Mou suggested including samples from individuals with various skin types, ages, and professions to ensure the experimental results are widely applicable. She emphasized the importance of strictly controlling variables to ensure the reliability of the research and the safety of the product. Dr. Mou also noted that product development is similar to drug development, requiring multiple stages of testing and extensive research. Lastly, she pointed out that as people become more concerned about skin health and anti-aging, the market demand for antioxidant skincare products is expected to grow, indicating a promising market outlook.
Summary:
Through questionnaire survey and foundation, we learned that there is still a large space for the future development of skin care products with antioxidant properties, and the target audience of this product is mostly female. In our questionnaire distribution group, the vast majority of people expressed their willingness to support our project products. Through expert interviews and questionnaire data, we learned that our project is necessary and we are honored to have the support of experts and people. We believe that after so many experiments, our project is the best.
Integrated Human Practices
Summary
In order to determine the topic of the project, all members of our team gathered together for a brainstorming session, and everyone shared their interest in the direction, and finally agreed to determine the general direction of skin antioxidant. After determining the general direction, we divided the division of labor and began to work. Wet team students consult literature to find solutions to problems, and dry team students contact experts and doctors for guidance. Through literature research, we selected β-agarase (AgaA) as an engineering enzyme to hydrolyze agarose to produce a novel antioxidant, NAOS, with the help of this novel antioxidant to achieve our purpose.
From May onwards, the team members began their work separately. During the summer vacation, the team worked efficiently in the laboratory, interviewed nine experts in different fields, and shared their experiences and suggestions with each of the eight iGEM teams. During the interview, Ms. Song from the bank and Dr. Mou from the dermatology department affirmed our target product - antioxidant skin care products and the market potential of the products, which established our confidence in carrying out the experiment. Professor Zheng from Zhejiang University of Technology and Professor Tan from Hangzhou Normal University provided guidance and suggestions for the overall design of our experiment. Professor Zheng reminded us to pay attention to the overall arrangement of the experiment, determine the focus of the experiment, and do not take too much. Professor Tan provided a new idea for us by suggesting that antioxidant products can also be applied in wound dressings. Add our products to hydrogels to increase their antioxidant properties and further promote wound healing; Dr. Yan and Director Lei of the Department of Plastic Surgery reminded us to pay attention to the biosafety, product safety and skin absorption of end products during the experiment, which made us pay great attention to project safety during the experiment. The iGEM team and the judges who participated in the exchange meeting also put forward their views on our project, they think that our project design idea is good, but we should pay attention to the control of some experimental details in the experiment process. We will also continue to improve our project based on your comments.
Ms. Ou, Ms. Li and Ms. Xu from the medical beauty industry analyzed the development status and prospects of relevant products to us, and all said that our products have great market potential, and provided us with a lot of suggestions, such as product publicity points, pricing and audience selection, which provided confidence for us to put our products into the market in the future.
1. Interview with Professor Zheng
Professor Zheng, from the College of Bioengineering at Zhejiang University of Technology, specializes in industrial biocatalysis and in vitro synthetic biology. We interviewed Professor Zheng, who highlighted that antioxidants help slow aging by removing free radicals. He mentioned that many antioxidant products, such as vitamin C, anthocyanins, and astaxanthin, have been proven effective in anti-aging and skincare. The professor sees antioxidants as an important topic and supports the use of NAOS as an antioxidant in skincare products, noting its market potential.
Regarding NAOS-based skincare products, Professor Zheng gave positive feedback on the team’s development but emphasized three key aspects: first, the actual antioxidant effect and duration of the product; second, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations, particularly the cosmetic additive directory; and third, the technological advantages of the production process.
On the experiment and overall project, Professor Zheng advised the team to evaluate the complexity of the entire process, from gene cloning to fermentation, particularly the extraction and synthesis of NAOS, pointing out that this poses significant challenges for high school students. He recommended that the team build on existing foundational research to achieve phased results and focus on deeply studying one specific area. Additionally, he stressed the importance of lab visits and gaining hands-on experience.
2. Interview with Professor Tan
Professor Tan from Hangzhou Normal University provided substantial suggestions during our interview while we were conducting experiments. Regarding the safety of our experimental products, he recommended using column chromatography or HPLC purification, or applying endotoxin removal reagents to prevent endotoxins from affecting the skin. Additionally, he suggested considering yeast as the production strain, as yeast extracts have a higher safety profile for the skin, and some skincare products already incorporate yeast-based ingredients.
In terms of testing the antioxidant performance of our product, Professor Tan advised using existing antioxidant skincare products on the market as a control. He also emphasized the importance of determining the appropriate concentration of NAOS, as antioxidant efficacy is concentration-dependent. We should refer to literature on the highest ROS levels in skin exposed to UV light, metal sensitivity, and high-temperature environments to adjust the product's concentration accordingly. This provided valuable insights for designing our future experimental protocols.
Furthermore, in selecting application scenarios for our product, Professor Tan suggested focusing on skin care and the repair of small wounds. He also emphasized the importance of product stability in these applications, which offered great ideas for our project's contribution and modeling aspects.
3. Interview with Dr. Yan
Dr. Yan, from the Plastic Surgery Center of Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, has conducted extensive research on the characteristics of human skin. Dr. Yan first affirmed the innovation and market potential of our project, noting that it has laid a foundation for industrial production and technology-to-market transformation. He emphasized that the demand for antioxidant products is high among dermatology patients, and our product aligns with the needs of beauty seekers in clinical settings.
In terms of product development, Dr. Yan provided several constructive suggestions:
Biosafety is critical, especially if the product is intended for internal use and enters the circulatory system, where higher safety standards will be required. This is an area that needs special attention.
He also highlighted the importance of cost, production process stability, compliance with production standards, and the cost of mass production once the product enters the market.
Regarding the product carrier, Dr. Yan mentioned that it is less important compared to the product's transdermal absorption. Since the skin has its own barrier, breaking through this barrier to penetrate the skin requires attention to the product's molecular weight and water solubility.
Lastly, Dr. Yan noted that hydrogel-based products are commonly used for open wounds, but the safety and composition of the carrier and additives need careful consideration.
These insights provide a valuable direction for refining our product and its production process.
4. Interview with Dissector Lei
Dr. Lei, Associate Chief Physician of Plastic Surgery, affirmed that our product, NAOS, has moisturizing, whitening, and antioxidant properties, and can remove reactive oxygen species (ROS). He noted that NAOS is derived from seaweed, and similar skincare products are already available on the market.
Regarding the trend of "natural" and "additive-free" skincare products, Dr. Lei suggested that NAOS might be considered an additive, but its classification depends on national regulations. Additionally, Dr. Lei emphasized that biosynthesis is not necessarily safer than chemical synthesis, which requires data to support such claims.
In terms of product development, Dr. Lei offered specific advice: selecting the right target age group is crucial, as skincare needs vary by age and skin type. For example, teenagers focus on cleansing and sun protection, adults on moisturizing and anti-aging, while the elderly prioritize wrinkle reduction and enhancing the skin barrier. When developing antioxidant products for different skin types (e.g., dry or oily skin), experimental data should guide formula adjustments, with personalized designs being more effective. Furthermore, it is important to consider transdermal absorption to ensure the product’s efficacy.
Lastly, Dr. Lei recognized the value of our work, acknowledging that the iGEM competition fosters teamwork and scientific research skills. The various tasks involved, such as experimentation, fundraising, and promotion, closely resemble real-world market challenges. By participating in the competition, students gain early exposure to societal realities, laying a strong foundation for their future career development.
5. Interview with Ms. Ou
Ms. Ou has been working in the skincare industry for many years and is highly knowledgeable about the various types of products available in the market. During the interview, she mentioned that the current skincare market is particularly focused on dual protection, Interview with -Director Lei
Ms. Ou has been working in the skincare industry for many years and is highly knowledgeable about the various types of products available in the market. During the interview, she mentioned that the current skincare market is particularly focused on dual protection, namely anti-glycation and antioxidants. She emphasized that antioxidants are a critical topic in skincare and have a promising market outlook. As an experienced professional in the skincare industry, Ms. Ou expressed her approval of the idea of incorporating oligosaccharides into skincare products. She also stated that she is very willing to support products related to our project.
6. Interview with Ms. Li
Ms. Li has been working in the medical beauty industry for a long time and has conducted in-depth research on the skincare market. Our team interviewed her about our project. Ms. Li mentioned that professional antioxidant products in the current market are generally expensive, primarily due to the high cost of raw antioxidant materials, and these products do not produce immediate results, requiring a long-term usage cycle. Therefore, brand recognition is crucial. She also reminded us that the main target audience for such products is people over 40 years old.
Regarding product positioning and marketing, Ms. Li gave us several key suggestions: pricing should be appropriate, neither too high nor too low, and the price should reflect the quality of the product. In terms of marketing, she advised focusing on key points in a simple and clear way without trying to cover too much. Lastly, Ms. Li emphasized that product safety is paramount, and creating a unique brand is essential for success.
7. Interview with Ms. Xu
Ms. Xu, a facial aesthetics physician, has a deep understanding of the current development of the medical beauty industry. In our interview, she shared her insights on modern beauty trends:
With the improvement of economic conditions, people's demand for beauty is increasing, and the medical beauty industry is developing rapidly. However, most people cannot frequently visit beauty salons, so at-home skincare products are becoming more important. While treatments like laser, photon, radiofrequency, and ultrasound can restore skin elasticity and improve skin condition to some extent, they can also cause certain reversible damage, especially for sensitive skin. This is why many beauty products now include highly effective antioxidant ingredients.
Ms. Xu also noted that in the past, consumers focused more on brand names when purchasing products, but now they are increasingly concerned with ingredients. If we can prove that our product has strong antioxidant capabilities, it could have significant market potential.
Furthermore, she emphasized that everyone needs antioxidant products, as the process of skin aging is essentially a process of oxidation. She also mentioned that wound healing speed is somewhat related to antioxidant capacity. Antioxidant products are not limited to topical use; oral products are also common.
Lastly, Ms. Xu affirmed the direction and focus of our project but cautioned us to consider whether our product poses any risks of harm to skin cells or hair follicles during its application.
8. Towards Synthetic Biology -2024iGEM Academic Exchange Conference
In August 2024, we shared with eight other teams (four high school teams and four undergraduate teams) the project content, experimental progress, direction and difficulties of their respective teams at Zhejiang University.
Throughout this process, we have had many profound experiences. While presenting our project to other teams, we also received valuable feedback and suggestions from judges and fellow team members. For instance, although our project topic was well-received, it was recommended that we supplement our research with more literature reviews and expand our background investigation.
We also learned a great deal from other teams' projects. For example, the ZJUT-China team from Zhejiang University of Technology focused their research on S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), a vital physiological compound found in living organisms. They innovatively introduced a riboswitch mechanism to construct an adaptive regulatory system for SAM production using E. coli as a host. Additionally, their project applied the E. coli QS-BA system, which allows the intracellular biological products to be released into the culture medium based on cell density. Meanwhile, the HiZJU-China2024 team from Zhejiang University's College of Chemical and Biological Engineering is developing an eco-friendly, sustainable biorecovery process for lanthanide rare earth elements. Another team from the ZJU-Edinburgh joint program, iZJU-China, tackled the growing global issue of sensitive skin problems. They proposed combining yeast extract production with an oscillation system to slow skin aging and promote detoxification.
Through this exchange of ideas and evaluations, we gained many valuable insights, which will provide useful direction and support for our future experiments and research.