Green chemistry for sustainable personal care

KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.

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A recent review in the Journal of Dermatologic Science and Cosmetic Technology examined microbial biosurfactants as sustainable alternatives to synthetic surfactants in shampoo formulations. The authors, from Bhupal Nobles’ University in India, addressed the growing demand for environmentally friendly and dermatologically safe cleansing agents, and emphasized the need to transition from petrochemical-based ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) to biodegradable biosurfactants.

“Traditional surfactants like SLS and SLES are effective cleansers but raise major concerns due to poor biodegradability, aquatic toxicity, and high irritation potential. They disrupt aquatic ecosystems and can produce harmful byproducts, prompting the cosmetics industry to seek greener alternatives,” explains lead and corresponding author Shaziya Yasmeen Sayeed. “Biosurfactants produced by microorganisms through fermentation are amphiphilic molecules that reduce surface and interfacial tension while offering improved environmental compatibility. Among them, rhamnolipids and sophorolipids are the most promising for personal care due to their strong surface activity, mildness, and high biodegradability.”

The authors found that rhamnolipids and sophorolipids achieved 85–95% sebum removal efficiency, retained over 75% foam volume, and biodegraded within 7–14 days at rates up to 95% —qualities that greatly surpassing synthetic counterparts.” Importantly, their irritation index remains below 1.0, and they cause less than 10% protein loss in skin models, compared with the 40% protein denaturation caused by SLS. These results confirm their suitability for sensitive skin and microbiome-friendly shampoo applications,” adds Sayeed.

Nonetheless, the adoption of biosurfactants faces challenges. Notably, their production cost (US$20–40/kg) is much higher than that of petrochemical surfactants, and their physicochemical stability can be affected by pH and ionic conditions.

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Contact the author: 

Shaziya Yasmeen Sayeed, Bhupal Nobles' College of Pharmacy, Bhupal Nobles' University, Udaipur 313002, India

shaziya.sy@gmail.com

The publisher KeAi was established by Elsevier and China Science Publishing & Media Ltd to unfold quality research globally. In 2013, our focus shifted to open access publishing. We now proudly publish more than 200 world-class, open access, English language journals, spanning all scientific disciplines. Many of these are titles we publish in partnership with prestigious societies and academic institutions, such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).

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Journal

Journal of Dermatologic Science and Cosmetic Technology

DOI

10.1016/j.jdsct.2025.100105 

Method of Research

Literature review

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Eco-friendly biosurfactants in shampoo: Green chemistry innovations for sustainable personal care

Enhancing efficacy and stability of nanoemulsions in cosmetics

KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.

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image: 

Fig. 1. Components of oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsion. Created by the author with BioRender.com

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Credit: Enes Deveci

A recent review in the Journal of Dermatologic Science and Cosmetic Technology examined the efficacy and stability of nanoemulsions in cosmetics. Nanoemulsions are nanoscale dispersions of oil and water stabilized by surfactants, typically ranging between 20 and 200 nm in droplet size. They exhibit kinetic stability, resisting phase separation and maintaining uniformity over extended periods. These systems can be prepared using high-energy techniques such as ultrasonication or homogenization, and low-energy methods like phase inversion temperature. The small droplet size contributes to enhanced optical clarity, greater surface area, and superior interaction with skin barriers — making them especially suitable for cosmetic applications.

In cosmetic formulations, nanoemulsions serve as efficient carriers for active ingredients, enabling deeper skin penetration and improved bioavailability. Their stability prevents degradation of sensitive compounds such as vitamins and antioxidants, thus maintaining product efficacy. Furthermore, nanoemulsions provide sustained release of actives, ensuring prolonged effects and reducing the need for frequent application. These attributes make them highly desirable for developing anti-aging creams, sunscreens, and moisturizing formulations.

Further, the versatility of nanoemulsions allows encapsulation of both hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds, thereby broadening their potential use. Their compatibility with biocompatible and non-toxic materials enhances their safety profile, making them suitable for sensitive skin and long-term use.

“Apart from those qualities, translucent appearance of nanoemulsion enhances the aesthetic appeal of cosmetic products, aligning with modern consumer expectations for clean and elegant formulations,” shares so author of the review Enes Deveci.

The review also highlights the challenges associated with large-scale production, stability under fluctuating temperatures, and compliance with safety regulations. The author emphasizes the need for systematic evaluation of formulation variables—such as surfactant type, oil phase ratio, and preparation technique—and how these parameters influence skin penetration, release kinetics, and overall efficacy.

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The publisher KeAi was established by Elsevier and China Science Publishing & Media Ltd to unfold quality research globally. In 2013, our focus shifted to open access publishing. We now proudly publish more than 200 world-class, open access, English language journals, spanning all scientific disciplines. Many of these are titles we publish in partnership with prestigious societies and academic institutions, such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).

Fig. 2. Schematic illustration of the primary stability mechanisms in nanoemulsions. Created by the author with BioRender.com. (A) Steric and/or electrostatic repulsion provided by the surfactant layer prevents droplet coalescence by creating a repulsive barrier between approaching droplets. (B) The constant and random Brownian motion of the nano-sized droplets overcomes the force of gravity, preventing creaming or sedimentation and ensuring long-term physical stability.

Credit

Enes Deveci

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Journal

Journal of Dermatologic Science and Cosmetic Technology

DOI

10.1016/j.jdsct.2025.100107 

Method of Research

Literature review

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Nanoemulsions in cosmetics: Enhancing efficacy and stability

COI Statement

The author declares that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

 

Screens that do good: How digital tools can help kids and teens stay healthy

University of South Australia

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Mobile phones and endless screen time are the bane of parents the world over. But while technology is often blamed for poor health in children and teenagers, new University of South Australia research suggests that the same devices could also be part of the solution.

 

In the largest global analysis of its kind, UniSA researchers reviewed data from more than 133,000 young people (under 18 years), finding that health apps, wearables, and interactive programs can help improve physical activity, diet, and weight outcomes for children and teens.

 

The researchers found apps and wearable technology delivered:

 

• More movement: Kids using digital health tools were more active overall, with noticeable boosts in moderate and vigorous physical activity. This translates to roughly 10–20 extra minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity each day.
• Better diets: Apps and online programs helped children eat more fruit and vegetables and cut back on fatty foods.
• Healthier weight: While the changes were small, participants showed steady improvements in body weight and body fat levels.
• Less sitting: Some programs helped children and teens spend about 20–25 minutes less per day sitting or on screens.
• Sleep unchanged: There was no clear evidence that digital tools improved sleep.

 

Some technologies worked better than others: mobile apps had the greatest impact on diet and weight outcomes, while wearables (such as fitness trackers) were most effective for reducing sedentary time.

 

Additionally, exercise programs that were shorter (eight weeks or under) had the biggest effect on boosting activity, while longer programs (running 12 weeks or more) were better for weight management.

 

Lead researcher, UniSA’s Dr Ben Singh, says electronic health (e-Health) and mobile health (m-Health) interventions show strong promise for promoting healthy behaviours among children and teens.

 

“Even though most young people know the importance of eating well, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep, many still fall short of the recommended health guidelines, putting them at greater risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease,” Dr Singh says.

 

“Digital health tools such as wearables, fitness apps, and online programs could help turn this around by motivating kids to be more active and eat better.

 

“Our research shows that digital health tools and apps can significantly improve children’s physical activity, diet and weight outcomes, putting them on a better health trajectory for life.

 

“Because children and teens have grown up with technology, they’re naturally open to using apps. They’re accessible, engaging, and easy to scale, which makes them a great choice for schools and community programs to promote healthier lifestyles.”

 

According to the World Health Organization, 80% of teenagers do not meet recommended levels of physical activity; 390 million children (5-19 years) are overweight, including 160 million with obesity. In Australia, one in five children are overweight or obese, with less than a quarter of children (5-14 years) getting an hour of physical activity each day.

 

This systematic umbrella review and meta-meta-analysis combined 25 systematic reviews to assess how digital health tools, such as mobile apps, text messages, wearables, active video games and web-based programs can influence physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep, diet and weight outcomes.

 

Dr Singh says policymakers and educators can use these findings to embed digital health tools into wellbeing strategies for children and teens, helping to build healthier lifelong habits.

 

“We know that features such as gamification, tailored messaging, and machine learning can boost engagement,” Dr Singh says.

 

“By integrating evidence-based apps and wearables into schools, primary care and community programs, we can make healthy habits more appealing and accessible for young people.

 

“This review brings together global evidence to understand when and how these tools work best. Short bursts of programs are ideal for lifting activity levels, while longer ones are better for weight management.

 

“These online tools worked as well as, and sometimes better than, traditional in-person health programs.

 

“Combining digital tools with light human support – from teachers, parents or health coaches – can also help keep motivation high.

 

“If we can encourage the use of healthy digital tools from a young age, we have a real opportunity to help children and teens form healthier habits that last a lifetime.”

 

 

The University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide are joining forces to become Australia’s new major university – Adelaide University. Building on the strengths, legacies and resources of two leading universities, Adelaide University will deliver globally relevant research at scale, innovative, industry-informed teaching and an outstanding student experience. Adelaide University will open its doors in January 2026. Find out more on the Adelaide University website.

 

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Contact for interview: Dr Ben Singh E: Ben.Singh@unisa.edu.au
Media contact: Annabel Mansfield M: +61 479 182 489 E: Annabel.Mansfield@unisa.edu.au

 

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Journal

Journal of Medical Internet Research

DOI

10.2196/69065 

Method of Research

Meta-analysis

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Lifestyle eHealth and mHealth Interventions for Children and Adolescents: Systematic Umbrella Review and Meta–Meta-Analysis

 

The international system for assessing organ dysfunction in critically ill patients is updated after thirty years

Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (Sant Pau Research Institute)

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Dr. Otavio Ranzani

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Credit: IR Sant Pau

The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has recently published the updated version of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), the global reference system in intensive care medicine used to assess the degree of organ dysfunction in critically ill patients. The results were also presented in parallel at the Annual Congress of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM LIVES 2025), held in Munich, in a featured session on current topics broadcast live.

SOFA-2, which replaces the model in place since 1996, incorporates advances in diagnostics, monitoring, and life support introduced over the past decades to more accurately reflect the reality of critically ill patients and the response of their organs to treatment.

The study was led by the international SOFA-2 Study Group consortium, with Dr. Otavio Ranzani, head of the Health DataLab at the Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR Sant Pau), serving as the leader of methodology and data analysis. The magnitude and diversity of the data analyzed—more than 3.3 million ICU admissions from nine countries—make this work the largest international review ever conducted on organ dysfunction measurement, setting a new benchmark for clinical practice and critical care research.

A New Standard for Measuring the Severity of Critical Illness

The SOFA system was conceived in 1994 and published in 1996 as a common language to describe dysfunction in six organs—brain, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and coagulation system—based on clinical and laboratory parameters. Since then, it has become an essential tool in both clinical practice and research, used to quantify the severity of critical illness.

Over the past three decades, intensive care has evolved profoundly. Today, clinicians have access to new monitoring devices, less invasive life-support therapies, and more specific drugs, as well as information systems that allow for a more dynamic and precise assessment of a patient’s condition. These advances made a complete update of the original model necessary.

“The way we treat patients in intensive care has changed enormously over the past three decades,” explains Dr. Otavio Ranzani, first author of the study. “We now have noninvasive ventilation, continuous renal replacement therapies, and circulatory support with much more precise devices and drugs. The SOFA system needed to reflect that reality so we can better describe organ dysfunction and compare patient severity consistently across the world.”

SOFA-2 maintains the structure of six organ systems but redefines the scoring thresholds and updates the variables used. Key innovations include the addition of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and high-flow oxygen therapy in the respiratory component, a new classification for vasopressor dosing in the cardiovascular component, and revised criteria for assessing liver, kidney, and coagulation function. The new model achieves a more uniform gradation of severity and a tighter relationship between score and clinical outcomes.

An Unprecedented International Scientific Consensus

The SOFA update was conducted in eight stages, combining expert consensus with large-scale clinical data analysis. First, a Delphi process brought together 60 international specialists from 25 countries, including two from Spain—Dr. Otavio Ranzani and Dr. Ricard Ferrer from Vall d’Hebron University Hospital—who reached consensus on the conceptual principles and key variables of the new model. The research team then validated these proposals using advanced statistical analyses across ten national registries of critically ill patients, totaling more than 3.3 million ICU admissions from Australia, Austria, Brazil, France, Italy, Japan, Nepal, New Zealand, and the United States, thus encompassing diverse healthcare systems and resource levels across four continents.

The result is a system that preserves the simplicity of the original SOFA while providing a much stronger empirical foundation and revised clinical criteria based on the analysis of millions of real-world cases. Each point on the scale was calibrated to correspond to a progressive and clinically consistent increase in mortality risk, validated across different cohorts and countries. Additionally, detailed instructions for data collection and interpretation were incorporated, ensuring uniform application across various care settings. Altogether, SOFA-2 provides a more accurate and contemporary representation of critical care management in the 21st century while maintaining the clarity and ease of use that characterized the original model.

“SOFA-2 is the result of an unprecedented scientific consensus in intensive care medicine,” emphasizes Dr. Ranzani. “It integrates the best available evidence with the accumulated clinical experience from highly diverse settings—from high-complexity university hospitals to resource-limited units. This ensures that the tool is truly global.” The results confirmed that SOFA-2 more accurately describes the progression of vital organ function in critically ill patients, showing a highly consistent relationship between score and observed mortality.

More Precise, Practical, and Universal

Beyond its statistical performance, the main contribution of SOFA-2 lies in its greater clinical applicability. The new model accounts for the realities of hospitals with varying resource levels and defines clear rules for data recording and interpretation, reducing variability between units and countries.

“We wanted SOFA-2 to be useful both in a large European hospital and in an ICU in a developing country,” notes Dr. Ranzani. “Our goal was to provide a standardized, up-to-date, and global tool to support both research and clinical decision-making.”

The system also improves consistency in intermediate levels of dysfunction, avoiding abrupt jumps between categories and allowing for a more intuitive gradation of organ deterioration. This enhances its value for daily clinical monitoring and for comparing outcomes across institutions or therapeutic trials. Moreover, it includes instructions adapted to resource-limited settings, enabling reliable use even in environments where certain treatments or measurements are unavailable.

A New Starting Point for Intensive Care Medicine

Another key contribution of SOFA-2 is its ability to harmonize intensive care research. By incorporating globally applicable and updated criteria, SOFA-2 facilitates comparison across multicenter studies and improves the quality of clinical trials. This methodological uniformity is essential for advancing toward a more data-driven and internationally valid field of intensive care medicine.

Researchers also highlight its usefulness for monitoring quality of care in ICUs, as it provides a sensitive and standardized indicator of organ dysfunction among treated patients. The team considers this update a turning point in how critical illness is quantified, offering a more precise, dynamic, and practice-aligned framework.

“SOFA-2 is a long-awaited update that enhances intensive care medicine’s ability to measure, understand, and treat critical illness,” concludes Dr. Otavio Ranzani. “By more faithfully reflecting patients’ physiology and the interventions they receive, this new system will enable better evaluation of treatment effects and support progress toward more personalized and efficient care.”

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Journal

JAMA

DOI

10.1001/jama.2025.20516 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Development and Validation of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA)-2 Score