1. Trehalose has been widely used as a protective agent in the pharmaceutical field

Trehalose is a stable non reducing disaccharide widely present in lower plants, algae, fungi, insects, and invertebrates. It can form a special protective film on the surface of cells under harsh conditions such as high temperature, high altitude, and dehydration, effectively protecting the structure of biomolecules from damage. It has excellent non-specific protective function on biological cells and can improve their resistance to harsh conditions.

In recent years, trehalose has been widely used as a stabilizer and protector in the fields of biologics such as antibody drugs, antibody conjugate drugs, cell and gene therapy. For example, over 35% of the formulations of antibody conjugated drugs (ADCs) currently on the market choose trehalose as their protective agent, including Adcetris, Padcev, Trodelvy, Blenrep, and others.

2. Exogenous trehalose can be used in the field of medical beauty and cosmetics

In addition, as a natural sugar, trehalose can not only exist in the form of free sugars, but also as a component of various glycolipids. Research has shown that exogenous trehalose and endogenous trehalose both have good non-specific protective effects on biomolecules, and trehalose can provide protection for the vast majority of biomolecules. However, due to the low endogenous trehalose content in most living organisms, the importance of supplementing exogenous trehalose is becoming increasingly apparent. In addition, trehalose has a small molecular weight and is easily absorbed by the skin, improving the ability of skin cells to resist dryness and freezing, thereby enhancing the skin's ability to adapt to the environment. These characteristics have gradually made trehalose an important functional ingredient in cosmetics. In recent years, an increasing number of related studies have shown that trehalose has multiple effects in skin and hair cosmetics.

3. The main role of trehalose in the field of medical aesthetics

3.1 Lowering the freezing point

Trehalose can lower the freezing point of aqueous phase, thereby greatly improving the low-temperature stability of medical beauty products.

3.2 Preventing Oil and Fat Decomposition

For products containing fatty acids and esters, adding trehalose can effectively inhibit oxidative rancidity. As found by the Institute of Biological Sciences in Japan, trehalose can inhibit the production of body odor in middle-aged and elderly people. As age increases, the fatty acid palmitic acid in human sebum increases, which can easily produce body odor after decomposition. Trehalose can effectively inhibit the decomposition of fatty acids, thereby achieving the effect of preventing or reducing body odor.

3.3 Preventing denaturation and inactivation of biomolecules

Some medical beauty products contain biomolecules as their active substances, such as epidermal growth factor (EGF), superoxide dismutase (SOD), etc. Trehalose has a good preservation effect on the biological activity of these biomolecules, which can effectively extend the shelf life and reduce storage requirements.

Oxygen free radicals are important factors leading to human aging and various diseases, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) can effectively eliminate oxygen free radicals. However, SOD has poor stability and is prone to deactivation. Skincare products containing SOD will quickly lose their effectiveness during storage until they become completely ineffective. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a type of small molecule peptide widely present in human and animal bodies, consisting of 53 amino acids. It is a common raw material for medical beauty products such as wrinkle removal and anti-aging, but it is also prone to deactivation when stored at room temperature. In recent years, trehalose, as a bioactive protectant, has gradually rewritten the history of biomacromolecules that cannot be stored at room temperature for a long time and cannot be applied to medical beauty products.

3.4 Moisturizing

Trehalose has excellent water retention properties and can replace water molecules on the surface of cells or biomolecules to form a hydration film during severe dehydration, providing protection.

The moisturizing effect of trehalose lies in the polar groups such as carboxyl and hydroxyl groups of its sugar molecules, which can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules to bind a large number of water molecules. At the same time, it acts as the extracellular gel like matrix of the skin, providing moisture to the skin. Moreover, trehalose has good film-forming properties, which can reduce surface water evaporation of the skin.

Hyaluronic acid is often used in combination with trehalose to complement and enhance its moisturizing and protective effects.

3.5 Enhance antioxidant stability

Maintaining the stability of active ingredients is a factor that must be considered in the prescription research of medical beauty products. For example, tea polyphenols are a commonly used antioxidant in medical beauty products, but they are very unstable. Trehalose can effectively enhance the stability of antioxidants such as tea polyphenols, thereby improving the overall stability and efficacy of medical beauty products.

3.6 Promoting Cell Growth

Trehalose has a certain growth promoting effect, which may be due to its affinity for receptors on keratinocytes or its activation of epidermal growth factor. This effect makes trehalose widely used in medical beauty products that promote wound healing or postoperative recovery, such as wound repair dressings.

4. Application of trehalose in the field of medical aesthetics

Trehalose has good compatibility and can be added to almost any medical and aesthetic products, such as cream, lotion, facial mask, shampoo, facial cleanser, repair dressing, etc. It can also be added to high-quality injection grade medical beauty products such as water light needles and microneedles. For example, Cui Hong and others from the First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine conducted a multicenter clinical observation of trehalose series dressings as an adjuvant therapy for facial dermatitis, with the aim of evaluating the clinical safety, applicability, and effectiveness of trehalose series dressings as an adjuvant therapy for facial dermatitis.

Facial dermatitis is a common and frequently occurring disease in dermatology clinics, which has received increasing attention due to its stubbornness, easy recurrence, and impact on quality of life. In recent years, taking sensitive skin as an example, due to people's abuse of skincare products, excessive cleaning, high mental stress, and unhealthy lifestyle habits, the incidence of sensitive skin has continued to increase, reaching 32.4% to 56%.

At present, antihistamines, topical weak acting glucocorticoids, and topical calcineurin inhibitors are commonly used drugs for treating facial dermatitis. However, due to adverse reactions such as skin shrinkage, local immune suppression, and potential carcinogenicity, their long-term use is often limited in clinical practice. Experts believe that while using medication, choosing a medical skincare regimen under the guidance of a dermatologist that can assist in restoring skin barrier function and reducing skin sensitivity can achieve satisfactory therapeutic effects.

The main components of trehalose dressings include trehalose, carboxymethyl chitosan, cocoa butter, glycerol, etc. In addition to moisturizing and hydrating, they also have antibacterial and anti infective effects, and promote wound healing. Trehalose dressings provide the skin with necessary moisture and lipids, provide a moist healing environment, improve damaged barrier function and stratum corneum integrity, promote the synthesis and establishment of epidermal lipid barriers, and alleviate the irritation of external environmental changes on the skin. This study shows that trehalose dressings have an ideal adjuvant therapeutic effect in the treatment of facial dermatitis.

Aiweituo has a long-term stable supply of protective agents and buffer salts such as trehalose, sucrose, TRIS/TRIS HCl, HEPES, etc., all of which are pharmaceutical injection grade, produced under GMP conditions, with low endotoxin, high purity and low impurities, in line with international mainstream pharmacopoeia standards. It has established stable cooperative relationships with many well-known domestic pharmaceutical, medical equipment, and medical beauty enterprises to assist in the research and development, production, and domestic and foreign application of high-end medical beauty products!