Biotechnology Development

Biotechnology Development

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

Francesca Palombo, Associate Professor in Biomedical Spectroscopy, was awarded an EPSRC IAA Impact and Knowledge Exchange Award to develop the industrial application of the emerging technology developed in her research lab, Brillouin micro-spectroscopy, a new optical elastography technique in biomedical sciences. She was previously awarded an EPSRC First Grant which funded the construction of a Brillouin microscope for application to fundamental problems in tissue biomechanics and possible wide-ranging applications in soft matter physics, material sciences and healthcare. Also, she received a CRUK/EPSRC Multidisciplinary Award to take this technique to the next level of near infrared detection and combination with Raman microscopy.

This project aimed to build on this research and in particular, she aimed to engage with a major multi-national company – Unilever – to enable the novel testing of their hair substrates to improve their personal care products and potentially advance the application of this technology in R&D. The project aimed to understand biological substrates that Unilever products interact with to a new level then how personal care products affect them, thus underpinning the innovation of development of potential new products.

The challenge

By improving products based on better understanding of the hair elasticity, this will ultimately improve the experience of the consumers, their health and wellbeing. Fibrous collagen-based materials that are characterised in terms of biomechanical and biophysical properties are simpler models for the hair’s matrix and can be used as testing models for diffusion of cosmetic ingredients, along with human hair as well. Understanding these molecular mechanisms will translate into improvements in personal care product manufacturing for hair treatment.

What was done to help

The project allowed for the purchase of specialised equipment for the lab (a high power laser) and a set of etalons for the Brillouin spectrometer (industry funded).

Exchange visits and experimental work was carried out to validate the use of Brillouin microscopy for mechanical testing of hair samples. Knowledge Exchange placements of a postdoctoral research associate from Exeter took place at Unilever to understand their biological substrates (human hair samples) and the requirements for Brillouin testing. The Brillouin microscope at Exeter and at a collaborator’s lab in Perugia, Italy was used to analyse samples provided by Unilever. These were analysed to validate the use of Brillouin microscopy for mechanical testing of hair samples and to extract the elasticity information that will then inform the improvement in personal care products.

Industry/academia partnership workshops were held with representatives from global photonics manufacturer Gooch & Housego and leading scientists from 4 European countries within the COST Action “BioBrillouin” (CA16124) to develop and select project concepts, co-explore translational aspects and share ideas and potential applications, to explore how feasible and versatile the novel technology is to meet industry needs so that techniques can be designed that are optimised for a range of applications.

The result

The Knowledge Exchange placements at Unilever led to data collection and knowhow on the use of correlative mechanical testing for the characterization of biological tissues.

The project developed the application of Brillouin microscopy to human hair. Data from Brillouin microscopy of hair samples showed enhanced capabilities of the technique to discriminate the effect of treatment. The project successfully demonstrated a novel tool to detect the effects of external treatment on bodily structures (hair). This can inform the manufacturing processes of personal care products. The contribution that this research provided to advance the understanding of biological substrates will underpin the innovation and development of potential new products. The ultimate benefit is an improvement of the experience of the consumers, their health and wellbeing.
The results have been presented in a research article which will be submitted for publication.

This project also led to the creation of a framework for industrial engagement (end user) in this research area and has resulted in the continued collaboration with Unilever through a BBSRC Industrial CASE PhD studentship starting in 2020-21. In addition, the industry/academia partnership workshops led to the creation of a consortium and bid for a Horizon 2020 RIA grant which is currently under review.