Development of an ative smoothing hair biotechnological

• Grant number: 20/05641-8
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Duration: October 01, 2021 - June 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Juliana Santos Nakayama
• Grantee: Juliana Santos Nakayama
• Host Company: Apoena Biosoluções do Brasil Eireli
• CNAE: Fabricação de produtos químicos não especificados anteriormente ; Fabricação de produtos farmoquímicos
• City: Diadema
• Associated scholarship(s): 21/11107-7 - Development of an active smoothing hair biotechnological, BP.TT

Abstract

Brazil is the second-largest market for hair-care products. Although the most used straightener active ingredients show high toxicity levels, hair straightening techniques have been widely used. Within this issue, it is essential to develop new straightener active compounds that are not toxic to human health. Thioredoxins are low-molecular weight proteins which, with the help of a reducing agent, are involved in diverse physiological processes due to their capacity of disulfide bond reduction. The thioredoxin addition to ammonium thioglycolate-based straightener formulations allows pHs close to the hair fiber, reducing the unpleasant ammonia odor, besides the reduction of toxic waste thrown away in the environment by using a renewable raw-material. The present project will promote a straightening innovation in haircare: a biotechnological straightener active ingredient which will be an alternative compared to the toxic products available in the market. Extremely promising results were already obtained, showing the thioredoxin's efficiency as intensifier of the ammonium thioglycolate effect in the straightening process. The main objective will be to evaluate the thioredoxin usage associated with thioredoxin reductase and or other reducing agents in the hair straightening process. Additionally, it will be evaluated the incorporation of different thioredoxin concentrations in ammonium thioglycolate-based straightener formulations, in order to reduce the thioglycolate concentration, increasing the commercial success chances of the product. Formulations containing thioredoxin with diverse reducing agents, thioredoxin reductase or ammonium thioglycolate, will be developed. The hair strands used in the straightening processes will be submitted to protein loss analysis, gloss measurement and mechanical properties to evaluate the straightening process in the hair fiber. (AU)