How Z-pods
Improve Product Performance
®
During our manufacturing process, we load your hero ingredient into our Z-pods®, which are micron-sized amorphous silica particles. The Z-pods® are then incorporated into a cream, lotion, serum, etc. by you or your CMO. Once applied, the Z-pods® embed deep into the stratum corneum and into the follicular unit, allowing much more of the hero ingredient to get to where it needs to be. From there, the Z-pods® release your hero ingredient slowly over time via diffusion, delivering lasting benefits to the skin for up to 24 hours, enhancing your hero ingredient's performance.
Z-pods® improve bioavailability via extended release and enhanced penetration
Z-pods® were originally developed at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and have evolved over dozens of grant-funded academic research studies, CRO clinical studies, and commercial partnerships.
Study 1
'Head-start' penetration into the stratum corneum and hair follicle
Fluorescently labeled 15 µm Z-pods® were dispersed in coconut oil. The preparation was rubbed into underarm cadaver skin. The skin was frozen in OCT, sectioned (5 µm), and imaged on an epifluorescent microscope. RESULT: Z-pods® collect deep in the stratum corneum and somewhat deep into the ostia of follicles, providing a reservoir of the loaded active to be released over many hours....and an improved "starting position" for the payload that the Z-pods® release.
Study 2
Z-pods improve bioavailability by more than double over a bolus dose
A CBD+BODIPY-loaded Z-pod® formulation was rubbed into one forearm and CBD+BODIPY without Z-pods ("neat") was rubbed into the other forearm. Coconut oil was the vehicle in both formulations. At the 1-hour timepoint and at the 7-hour timepoint, 15 tape-strips (3 x 2 cm; 3M Transpore Surgical Tape) were applied to skin and removed, carrying with it layers of skin. RESULT: At both the 1-hour and 7-hour timepoints, total fluorescence intensity was more than double for the material with Z-pods®, indicating at least 2X improved “bioavailability” of the Z-pod® formulation over the neat (or bolus) formulation.
Study 3
Extended release of active
Active-loaded Z-pods® were pitted against activewithout Z-pods® using an In Vitro Release Test (IVRT) RESULT: A clear-cut sustained-release mechanism of Z-pods® is demonstrated (over 12 hours of sustained release versus 4 hours without Z-pods®).
Study 4
Extended release with BODIPY-loaded Z-pods®
A skin-focused CRO conducted a ‘penetration’ study using BODIPY as the payload (BODIPY is a green fluorescent compound; and the particles were flourescently labeled red). RESULT: The images at the 8-hour and 24-hour timepoints strongly suggest that the Z-pod® system is indeed sustained-release over long periods of time.
Study 5
Y100 restores mitochondrial function for a few hours. Y100 loaded into Z-pods® restores mitochondrial function
ALL DAY LONG.
Y100 is a new compound that has recently been demonstrated to restore mitochondrial function A target biomarker for mitochondrial biogenesis, Cox II, was used to demonstrate the effect of encapsulation and sustained release over time. RESULT: At both the 8-hour and the 24-hour timepoints, the biomarker signal of neat Y100 (black, brown, and blue) were near the baseline (blue and red controls), while Y100-loaded Z-pods® produced a significantly stronger biogenesis signal.
WANT INCREASED BIOAVAILABILITY?
Z-pods® significantly increase the bioavailability of anandamide (AEA), an endocannabinoid. The extended release from Z-pods® kept the amount of AEA "under the body's radar," which avoided triggering the biologic clearing process, resulting in significantly increased efficacy as compared to bolus applications of AEA (i.e., without Z-pods®).
TARGETING FOLLICLES?
Z-pods® are designed to embed fairly deeply into the follicular unit and the stratum corneum, giving the payload a 'head start' in reaching targets in the follicle (and in the viable dermis). This makes them a great option for addressing common skin concerns such as acne and alopecia.
NEED IMPROVED SOLUBILITY?
Z-pod® technology proved to be a game-changer for a firm struggling with low solubility of their hero ingredient. With the help of Z-pods®, the soluble concentration was increased by almost 20-fold from 0.3% to over 5.0%. This breakthrough technology can improve the performance of many products whose hero ingredient suffers from solubility issues.
LOOKING FOR MORE STABILITY?
Many cosmeceutical companies have sought our expertise in encapsulation technology to enhance the stability and performance of their products. We are proud to offer our services to help you deliver these benefits for your products.