Amorepacific has successfully developed a next-generation cosmetic delivery technology leveraging advanced nanotechnology. The culmination of a collaborative industry-academia research endeavor with Professor Siyoung Choi's team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), these groundbreaking findings were featured as the cover article in the May issue (Vol. 20, Issue 17) of the internationally acclaimed nanoscience journal, ACS Nano. (Paper Title: Triterpenoids Bend and Bind Lipid Membranes into 20 nm Stable Nanocages)

This study stands as a monumental advancement in technology designed to deliver active cosmetic ingredients to the skin with superior efficacy. The joint research team reduced the dimensions of a lipid-based delivery system to an astonishingly minute scale of approximately 20 nanometers (nm), substantially smaller than conventional carriers, while concurrently forging a stable architecture highly resistant to structural collapse. This 20nm-class, ultra-stable nano-delivery technology, currently being seamlessly integrated into IOPE and Primera products, has been officially dubbed 'Lipo3Ex.'

In the realm of cosmetic ingredient carriers, a smaller particle size generally facilitates enhanced efficacy delivery; however, this often poses the inherent limitation of maintaining structural integrity. More specifically, ultra-compact carriers under 50 nanometers (nm) in size have proved remarkably difficult to apply to commercial products, as their fragile structures would readily collapse in response to even microscopic fluctuations in temperature or acidity (pH). To surmount these formidable challenges, the Amorepacific R&I Center directed its scientific focus toward triterpenoids, a potent plant-derived ingredient. Through continuous research, the team confirmed that triterpenoids naturally preserve the carrier's structure and fortify intermolecular bonds, effectively heightening overall stability. By harnessing this invaluable insight, the researchers secured both ultra-compact size and structural stability—two virtues previously deemed mutually exclusive in the design of such delivery vehicles.

In empirical human skin trials, this advanced technology demonstrated its capability to diffuse evenly into the deeper layers of the skin far more effectively than traditional carriers, tangibly amplifying the delivery efficiency of the active ingredients. This profound breakthrough signifies that cosmetic active ingredients are no longer confined to specific areas of the skin; instead, they are delivered uniformly across the entire dermal landscape. As a result, consumers can expect significantly more stable and consistent restorative benefits, fostering balanced overall skin health upon actual application. Such exceptional characteristics represent a pivotal foundation from the perspective of skin longevity, where maintaining and managing the structural health of the skin over the long term is paramount.

In addition, this study deployed a formidable suite of cutting-edge analytical methodologies such as cryo-electron microscopy, X-ray scattering analysis, and molecular dynamics simulations to rigorously validate the formation and stability of the nano-structure down to the precise molecular level. It is uniquely significant in that it establishes a foundation for cosmetic delivery technologies to be designed based upon empirical science, transcending existing sensory or experiential approaches.

Byung-Fhy Brian Suh, CTO of the Amorepacific R&I Center, observed, "In cosmetics, and most profoundly within skincare, precise delivery technology serving as the critical conduit linking an ingredient's potential to tangible efficacy has finally merged with pioneering nanoscience research, suggesting new technological frontiers, and making this study truly significant." He added, "Amorepacific has continuously spearheaded research framed through the lens of a 'Holistic Longevity Solution,' an all-encompassing paradigm that visualizes the skin as an integrated biological system while monitoring its long-term vitality. This remarkable accomplishment is the fruit of that holistic approach, and we look forward to it serving as a pillar for the development of our next-generation skincare solutions."