SKIN TREAT

Novel approaches for the development of customized skin treatments and services (Test case: Dead Sea Minerals and Conventional drugs)

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Economical and health interests of skin problems are fast growing issues in Europe, following the remarkable extension in life expectancy in western countries, together with the increased awareness of UV radiation risks. Personalized health care approach has been discussed over the past few years and had been accompanied by developing innovative technologies capable of identifying specific biomarkers, supporting a personalized diagnosis and treatments, especially concerning bio-compatibility of drugs. Skin Treat intends to develop and validate nano-chemical and bio- technologies to achieve an accurate matching of drugs, and drug delivery vehicles, to skin diseases and sub pathogenic skin conditions in their individual context. The project will design novel generation of pharmaceutical products, as well as consumer personalized service, in order to fit customers’ tailored needs with a support of strategic consortium based on partnership among SMEs and research organizations. The development of personalized skin therapy protocols requires achieving an accurate diagnostics of skin condition and an extensive analysis of biological markers. Non invasive methods as well as minimal invasive skin sampling, will support the establishment of a range of biological profiles corresponding to skin diseases and skin sub pathologic conditions. Statistical processing of these data will allow defining biomarkers patterns specifically associated with given clinical conditions. A bio-informatics data mining protocol will be elaborated, together with multifunctional biomarker analysis software, to build a refined, personalized diagnosis method. Finally, the computer data analysis will yield a decision support system (DSS) to assist dermatologists, chemist and clients for prescription of personalized treatment. Skin Treat concept will be evaluated by a wet pilot study of the whole ervice chain on a few, selected skin disorders like psoriasis, contact dermatitis, and UV skin photo-aging damages.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Healing salts and nanotechnology combine to create skin creams that could counter skin ageing and relieve a variety of skin ailments.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Skin diseases are adversely affecting Europeans more than ever before, not least because of prolonged life expectancy and increased exposure to UV radiation from sunlight. A new, more personalised concept in healthcare and drug administration is now possible thanks to technological advances and biomedicine.

The EU-funded project 'Novel approaches for the development of customised skin treatments and services' (SkinTreat) is developing biotechnology and nanochemical drugs tailor-made to match patients' needs, and delivering these drugs more efficiently. It is focusing on combining conventional drugs and Dead Sea salts with new technologies and disciplines.

The project team is designing a new generation of personalised pharmaceutical products matching customers with their ideal treatments. The development of personalised skin therapy protocols requires accurate diagnosis of skin conditions plus an extensive analysis of biological markers.

Non-invasive methods and minimally invasive skin sampling have identified a range of biological profiles corresponding to skin diseases and subclinical skin conditions. Statistical data processing has enabled researchers to observe biomarker patterns specifically associated with various clinical conditions.

A bio-informatics data-mining approach combined with biomarker analysis software is also supporting a refined, personalised diagnosis method. In addition, computer data analysis is used to create a decision support system to help dermatologists and pharmacists prescribe personalised treatments.

The SkinTreat approach is being evaluated for selected skin disorders such as psoriasis, contact dermatitis, and UV skin photo-ageing, and a feasibility study is being conducted.

Retinyl palmitate, a preformed version of vitamin A, is being studied as a conventional dermal drug, to be combined with more unconventional substances like Dead Sea minerals. All drug delivery systems will contain Dead Sea minerals. The team studied several capsule and nano-emulsion for application and delivery, narrowing them down to seven water-based and five oil-based systems. Both nano-emulsions and nano-dispersions containing Dead Sea minerals and retinyl palmitate were successfully prepared and deemed safe after testing.