Latest news with #FraserStoddart
Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Times
Noble Panacea: quiet luxury's answer to skincare
We think so much about how to protect our skin that the UK skincare industry is now a £3.5 billion machine. But what are successful beauty brands doing to protect and preserve the potent ingredients within that skincare? Besides housing it in swanky bottles and fancy packaging, it seems not very much. That's where Noble Panacea differs. • This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue Founded in 2019, the luxury skincare label Noble Panacea was created by the late Sir Fraser Stoddart whose lifetime contribution to chemistry was recognised by many prestigious awards, including a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth in 2006, the Albert Einstein World Award of Science in 2007, and becoming a 2016 Nobel laureate in chemistry. To this day it is one of the only skincare brands whose founder has such extensive accolades. After four decades of research and thousands of experiments unlocking molecular secrets, Stoddart and his team found a way to engineer the molecules within skincare to unleash properties of the active ingredients inside. And so the Organic Super Molecular Vessels (OSMV), Noble Panacea's proprietary system, was born. Behind the fancy name, in reality it is a shell built from biodegradable, renewable carbohydrates and fatty acids. These encapsulate the active ingredients within skincare, protecting them from oxidation and environmental degradation, which can have a negative effect on efficiency. While there is no way of seeing these OSMVs (they are 10,000 times smaller than a skin cell to enable them to deliver ingredients deep into the skin), the clever chemistry allows ingredients to be protected at the individual molecular level. This helps them to preserve their integrity for optimal freshness and to prevent any cross-interaction. The science doesn't stop there. The OSMVs can also be programmed to release ingredients in an ordered sequence and to allow a long-term release through a carefully controlled, staggered, multi-layered method based on the ingredient profile and its skin benefits. 'Similar to pharmaceuticals, skincare has a therapeutic window where a continual and precise dosage is the most potent and effective,' the brand says. 'Too high of an ingredient dosage may turn it into a skin irritant, whereas too low may not be effective.' To put this into perspective, most other skincare products are absorbed immediately after application, without taking into account the skin's therapeutic window, and are therefore less efficient. Noble Panacea products are different as the OSMVs let the skincare work over time — programmed to be in keeping with when your skin is the most receptive to its ingredients. This is particularly significant when it comes to nighttime skincare. Named as being one of the most iconic innovations by Noble Panacea, The Overnight Chronobiology Peel is an intensive, leave-on treatment powered by the brand's OSMV technology. The brand claims it can improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, pores and uneven skin tone through a deep exfoliation. It is one of the few chemical peels on the market calibrated to the skin's natural overnight biorhythm. The overnight peel is designed to release a micro-dose of potent active ingredients in stages throughout the course of eight hours, each designed to target a specific cycle of your sleep. During the first stage (for example, 11pm to 4am), which is the time of cellular renewal, a controlled release of complex AHAs and BHAs are released to help remove dead skin cells and exfoliate the skin. In the second stage (when the peel has been applied for over 5 hours), the skin is in its maximum absorption phase, so the product releases a blend of the herb Gotu Kola for a soothing feel. Unlike other chemical peels, there is no need to follow up with a neutralising agent post application, nor is any downtime necessary the next day. Simply use the resurfacing treatment once a week to see the results. While lots of luxury skincare brands shout about the active ingredients inside their top secret formulations, what sets Noble Panacea apart is just how those ingredients are delivered into your skin. 'We do not believe in myths and hype,' the brand says. Instead it relies on highly efficacious, dermatologist and ophthalmologist approved products, which are optimised by its programmed OSMVs and rooted in molecular chemistry. Welcome to the next generation of science-backed skincare. Shop Noble Panacea's The Exceptional Overnight Chronobiological Peel (£280 for 8 doses) at Harrods
Emirates Woman
07-05-2025
- Business
- Emirates Woman
A skincare trailblazer on the business of boundary-breaking beauty
CEO and Co-creator of Noble Panacea, Céline Talabaza, on the business of boundary-breaking beauty and helming a science-led skincare powerhouse brand. Céline Talabaza, CEO and Co-creator of Noble Panacea As you were developing the line, what aspects did you prioritise and how did you develop the concept? The brand's founder and his discovery are at the very core and the reason we exist at Noble Panacea. Noble Panacea is the only skincare brand founded by a Nobel Laureate and it means the world. Professor Sir Fraser Stoddart was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2016 for his work on supramolecular machines. His discovery, The Organic Super Molecular Vessel (OSMV), is a radically unique, smart, programable, safe encapsulation system that multiplies the efficiency of a skincare product. 'Pushing the boundaries on status quo and collaborating with a brilliant team is probably my favourite part of Noble Panacea' I was brought on board to co-create the brand with Professor Sir Fraser Stoddart himself and Audrey Bois Nicolai, now Brand VP. We sat down at Northwestern University learning about the power of the newly discovered OSMV and asked a lot of questions about its potential: 'Can we do this? Can we do that?'. Most of the answers I heard were 'yes' and I knew we were onto something completely unique. The true groundbreaking scientific advancement of the technology sets Noble Panacea apart from all existing brands; Noble Panacea is a Deep Tech company, commercialising for the very first time a piece of fundamental research which took years to see the light. The fact that I could apply my knowledge from the beauty industry and pioneer, in terms of market availability, this new disruptive patented active ingredient delivery system to be used in a daily product has been very fulfilling. Pushing the boundaries on status quo and collaborating with a brilliant team is probably my favourite part of Noble Panacea. What do other beauty brands lack that you hope to provide with Noble Panacea? Noble Panacea is a Deep Tech organisation, which means we dedicate ourselves to bring first to market innovation. We are the only one in the world that provides this amount of precision for ingredient action on skin. Everything we do is data driven, cross tested and we recently announced Dr. Benjie Limketkai, MIT PHD, at the helm of our own laboratory in Irvine, California. I have been working with Ben since the inception of Noble Panacea and he is leading the future of the OSMV roadmap. Skincare is not a soup where you drop ingredients, mix them together hoping they will act on your skin. Skincare that works is based on understanding the relationship and evolutive bonds between supramolecules. We code and program our formula, so they unfold their intentional dosage and sequence of actives for your skin. This is completely breakthrough in beauty. This is a new patented technology. The brand harnesses the power of scientific research and innovative technology. How challenging was it to refine the formulations? The OSMV is a beautiful, serendipitous discovery. Throughout a process of crystallisation, Professor Sir Fraser Stoddart has created a very safe, predictable, sophisticated but tiny molecular sculpture that can encapsulate the active ingredients and release them in a preprogrammed sequence and dosage. Noble Panacea is the first brand to launch products with OSMV which means we produce small batches; everything is crafted with precision. It takes 10 to 12 weeks to produce one Noble Panacea product. We have our own team of scientists at the Noble Panacea Lab in Irvine, California. For a brand our size, it is unusual to have our own laboratory. This way we can control and respect the process of green chemistry and sophisticated testing protocol to deliver the most efficacious yet clean and eco-friendly formula. Work- ing with a Nobel laureate in Chemistry implies the very high sense of responsibility we have when it comes to the quality and the commitment behind every single product. The Noble Panacea Lab will check the proven efficacy of the different actives on white papers before we consider using them. Once proven, we will source them from the most trusted suppliers, we will then dissect them and load the hardworking proteins into the OSMVs in order to provide a very specific sequence and dosage to optimise the best skin results. For instance, our Exceptional Vitamin C booster releases 20 per cent pure L ascorbic acid during the whole day in pre-programmed controlled micro-doses, something that has never existed before. Noble Panacea brings a line of performance-driven products with the groundbreaking OSMV Technology – a scientific discovery unique to Noble Panacea. What are the benefits that it adds to skincare? Think about it as Time Release Technology. The OSMV can release the active ingredients the whole day or night in a specific order, at a controlled release rate, micro dosed so your cream keeps on working for you while you wear it. This innovative delivery system, a system of encapsulation of active ingredients, has been proven to increase the potency of your normal skincare (non OSMV) by tenfold. It does not only play a key role in time released ingredients, but it also protects them against negative cross interactions and can bring the molecules of these ingredients way deeper into where it is needed (+200 per cent penetration lab data). The OSMV is so precise that it can release the actives within the therapeutic window of efficacy, avoiding irritation and optimising efficacy. For example, the Exceptional Chronobiology Sleep Mask is an excellent illustration of what the OSMV can do. The skin has its own circadian rhythm, and the nighttime process follows three stages from detoxification, to repair to highest permeability. The same way your sleep/wake cycle typically follows the shifts in light from day to night, your skin also adjusts itself on a 24-hour cycle. During the day, it is a shield–a barrier to protect us from environmental aggressors. At nighttime, when protection is no longer a priority, the skin has the opportunity to 'detox' in order to ensure that cellular renewal is healthy and skin repair takes priority. This is the first stage in the overnight biorhythm, taking place between 11pm and 4am, when our Overnight Chronobiology Mask gentles exfoliates and supports microbiomes with Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA) and a blend of pre-, pro-, and post-biotics. The repair stage then happens within a smaller window between 2am-4am where we see cellular regeneration powered by retinol and peptides to boost collagen and elastin. The final stage sees peak skin blood flow and an increase in temperature resulting in higher skin permeability, reaching its maximum from 4am onwards. Whilst this increase in skin permeability results in a rise in trans epidermal water loss (TEWL), it also means that skin's absorption potential is at its maximum. This is why the Overnight Chronobiology Mask releases nourishing ingredients Ceramide NP and dual-molecular-weight Hyaluronic Acid for deep hydration and skin barrier support at this time. It is like having three facial experts operate their treatment on you at night while you are sleeping. As a sustainable brand, Noble Panacea produces in small batches, single-dose and refillable packaging. Was this the idea from the outset? Absolutely, when you build a new brand, it was essential for Sir Fraser and myself to build a routine which will limit waste while protecting the efficacy of the technology. In terms of formulation, we have our own laboratory and this way we can control and respect the process of green chemistry and sophisticated testing protocol to deliver the most efficacious yet clean and eco-friendly formula. Our formulations are safe, clean and we are committed to using sustainably sourced active ingredients whenever possible. Not only are our formulas environmentally friendly, but our OSMV production process is also a closed-loop, renewable process with no waste. The OSMV structure is biodegradable and renewable. We also take pride in our sustainable packaging, including our infinitely refillable starch-based box that is plastic-free and all our packaging is 100 per cent recyclable, including our tertiary packaging made from FSC-Certified paper that comes from well-managed forests. To ensure optimal dosage and formula integrity, the formula must sit in our Active Daily Doses. We are committed to sustainability without compromising the efficacy of our products. Our doses are sent to our recycling partner in different regions of the World. With every purchase of our products comes a prepaid envelope to be delivered back to the organisation which recycles the doses. Building a successful beauty brand is a different beast. What do you think has been pivotal to the continued and quiet success of Noble Panacea? What is essential to the success of Noble Panacea is remaining true to our mission, which means never ever compromise on quality and stay laser focused on serving optimal skin health which is a synonym of making tough choices. My team is composed of very talented inter- national individuals based around the world and none of this would be possible without them. We have also built a genuine community composed of experts, brand adepts and word of mouth is essential for us. As you hint, we are a small company with high ambition. The brand officially launched over five years ago globally and three years ago in the Middle East. Which products are selling out in the region? The top choices in the Middle East region are The Exceptional Chronobiology Sleep Mask, the Exceptional Overnight Peel, The Absolute Lift oil and The Absolute Serum. All these creations are absolutely unique. The Peel, for example, helps with deep yet gentle exfoliation and is synced to your skin biorhythm at night. The Oil is the only oil that is able to deeply hydrate. While water soluble ingredients and oil are not friends, we were able to encapsulate hyaluronic acid in an oil format. Thanks to the OSMV we are breaking the old laws of chemistry. Our clients in the region have very high standards and expectations, they travel quite a lot, and they know Noble Panacea skin results are unmatched. Now that summer season is here, what should we be investing and adding to our skincare routine that will deliver long-term results? In summer, skin gets obviously dehydrated which can lead to all sorts of skin issues and premature aging is one of them. I would recommend adding The Elemental Hydrating Prep Lotion to any skincare routine as the first step post cleansing. The lotion releases hyaluronic acid during the whole day and that helps keep a hydrated healthy skin matrix which then allows all subsequent products to penetrate deeper. I would also recommend The Energist SPF 50, it is the only photoageing protector and corrector in the world to activate the release of ingredients triggered by UV light. Absolutely groundbreaking, it is a 100 per cent mineral filter which is essential to avoid finding chemical remains in the body (when using chemical UV filters). What's on the horizon for the brand – are there any particular developments that excite you for the future of your craft? With our Chief Technology Officer, we are working on the OSMV roadmap, as a triggered technology there are multiple triggers that we can explore that can trigger the precise, intentional release of ingredients: time, water concentration, pH level, enzymatic activity, UV light etc. We are working on the next generation of OSMV in order to propose revolutionary solutions for the skin. Something very exciting is coming later this year. In the Middle East region, we are now distributed in Bloomingdales, Ounass and Harvey Nichols and we will be launching at Aeon Clinic at the iconic Royal Atlantis very soon. It is a state-of-the-art lon- gevity clinic where they only adopt the most cutting-edge solutions, we are very honoured and excited to launch with them. This is The Discovery Issue – what is your latest and greatest discovery? Noble Panacea is all about discovery. From the supramolecular invention of Professor Sir Fraser Stoddart to the endless future potential of the deep-tech OSMV. A great discovery recently was when I recently visited the Louvre in Abu Dhabi, and I was in awe of the architecture of Jean Nouvelle and the neuro synergy it creates in calming the soul. It is fascinating to learn how the roof is mimicking overlapping leaves where you can still feel the sun, but it is creating a gorgeous light as well as lowering the temperature. My favourite part was that we were surrounded by octagonal shapes, and this is the iconic shape for Noble Panacea as it mimics the octagonal structural shape of the OSMV. – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram Images: Supplied
The Guardian
26-01-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Sir Fraser Stoddart obituary
In 1991 the organic chemist Sir Fraser Stoddart, who has died aged 82, synthesised artificial molecular machines for the first time. They mimic the way that some biological materials are able to move in a quasi-mechanical, interlocking way. Stoddart had previously noted that natural occurring organic molecules such as the protein myosin, which drives the contraction of muscles, or motor enzymes that help maintain DNA, acted like tiny machines. He realised that the molecular components of these machines could, like the cogs, pistons and switches of macroscale machines, move relative to each other and, more importantly, can bond together mechanically and become entangled. By building their synthetic equivalents, powered by electrical energy, chemical reactions or light, he created an entirely new field in organic chemistry. The first machine, which he named a rotaxane, consisted of a ring-shaped molecule threaded on to a longer molecule that functioned like an axle. More complex molecular machines would follow, created both by Stoddart and other chemists following his lead, including successfully synthesising catenanes – two interlocked molecular rings. His work bridged the gap between chemistry and the engineering challenges of operating at the very small scale of nanoelectrical systems, and he expanded the field of supramolecular chemistry – the branch of chemistry beyond the molecule. Molecular machines are built using specialised equipment, with techniques such as scanning tunnelling microscopy and X-ray crystallography employed to validate the structures, function and efficiency of the artificial molecular machines that they are synthesising. These machines expanded the potential applications of nanotechnology. Innovations such as molecular lifts (nanoscale devices that move molecules across cell membranes) and computer memory chips smaller than a white blood cell but with a memory storage capacity of 160,000 bits, all benefited from Stoddart's initial work, as did the emerging medical nanobot technology. For his initial discoveries and subsequent research in the field, Stoddart was awarded the 2016 Nobel prize in chemistry, sharing it with the Dutch organic chemist Ben Feringa and French coordination chemist Jean-Pierre Sauvage. Born in Edinburgh, Fraser was the only child of Jean (nee Jane Fortune) and Thomas Stoddart, who were farmers. He was raised at Edgelaw Farm, Midlothian, a tiny community a dozen miles south of the Scottish capital that, for the first 18 years of his life, had no electricity. At the local primary school in Carrington his teachers encouraged his love of building toys from Meccano, to which he attributed his later professional interest. He won a scholarship to Melville college, one of Scotland's foremost independent schools, and in 1960 went to the University of Edinburgh, where he studied chemistry, physics and mathematics. After gaining a BSc (1964) in chemistry, he stayed at Edinburgh, researching natural gums in acacia trees for his doctorate (1966). Following postings at Queens University in Ontario, Canada, and the University of Sheffield, in 1978 he started work at the laboratory belonging to the chemicals conglomerate ICI in Runcorn, Cheshire, where he began researching mechanically interlocked chemicals, a passion that would come to define his academic career. Among a string of academic appointments, the most significant were his posts as reader (1982-90)and then professor of organic chemistry at Birmingham (1990-97), where his groundbreaking work on molecular machines began; at the University of California, Los Angeles (1997-2007); and his directorship of the Center for the Chemistry of Integrated Systems at Northwestern University in Illinois (2008-23). His academic papers were notable for their cartoon-like form of presentation, eschewing a more common formal written manner for standardised, colour-coded diagrammatic representations of molecular properties. The style has been adopted by other researchers in the field. Stoddart was a strong believer in the importance of eliminating all barriers in the face of free movement of students and researchers. He frequently stated that 'science is global; science knows no boundaries'. He also believed that global warming was the biggest threat to humanity, adding that: 'The Nobel prize was humbling but it doesn't mean anything if what you are doing isn't benefiting society.' Subsequently, after realising hydrogen's potential as a clean and efficient combustible fuel, in 2021 he co-founded, with Samer Taha and Omar Yaghi, a California-based startup called H2MOF, dedicated to solving the challenges associated with hydrogen storage and transportation. A few months before his death, Stoddart reported, in the journal Nature Chemistry, nanomaterial with record high hydrogen storage density, pointing to the possibility of significant progress in this field. Often outspoken and no respecter of the bureaucratic processes of many of the institutions for whom he worked, Stoddart expressed opinions that often brought him into conflict with their academic rigidity and administrative requirements. However, he was intent on sharing his knowledge, and over the last 35 years of his life trained more than 500 PhD students in his laboratories. Knighted in 2006, he received the Albert Einstein world award of science (2007) and the Royal Society of Chemistry's centenary prize (2014). He was elected a fellow of the Royal Societies of London and Edinburgh, winning the former's Davy medal in 2008 and the latter's Royal medal in 2010. He was also a member of the US National Academy of Sciences. In 1968 he married Norma Scholan, a biochemist. She died in 2004, and he is survived by their daughters, Fiona and Alison, and five grandchildren. James Fraser Stoddart, chemist, born 24 May 1942; died 30 December 2024
