Green chemistry and biotechnology approaches for the development of nature-based cosmetics

GreenCosmIn aims to form a tight multisectoral and interdisciplinary network for the implementation of green approaches for natural resources exploration and exploitation, towards the production of cosmetics. Extraction, advanced phytochemical analysis and dereplication, in vitro screening, and biotechnological production technologies will be applied in the development of natural cosmetic ingredients and their incorporation into final products. GreenCosmIn will use the prior knowledge of the consortium in biodiversity exploitation and green chemistry extraction with innovative extraction media in lab and pilot scale, for the discovery of extracts and compounds with bioactivity related to skin cosmetic properties (antioxidant, anti-hyperpigmentation, anti-ageing, anti-inflammatory, emollient, antimicrobial, prebiotic), and safety to humans and the environment. Biotechnology approaches and microorganism assisted methodologies will be applied to produce active compounds both in lab and large scale. Active ingredients will be incorporated into final products with preformulation studies and LCA/consumer satisfaction analyses will be performed. A balanced consortium of six Academic partners in the field of natural products chemistry, biodiversity, biotechnology, cosmetology, and biology, will efficiently interact with five Non-Academic partners in the field of metabolomics, biotechnology, cosmetics, and natural ingredients development. Among them, three Associated partners from biodiversity hot spots, ensure the collaboration towards innovative results, and secondments of researchers meaningful for their career and skill development, and the foundation of strong collaborations to be retained after completion of the project. Finally, GreenCosmIn will provide training and transfer of knowledge to developing countries of the consortium, such as Mongolia, Tunisia, French Polynesia, and vice versa as well.