DSM Venturing, the corporate venturing unit of Netherlands-based ingredients specialist DSM, says it has invested $2m in Sol-Gel Technologies, a privately owned company specializing in beauty and health care applications.
The investment will be specifically channeled into the development of skin care and dermatology applications as part of efforts by DSM to increase its presence in the personal care field.
Sol-Gel develops high technology ingredients that are used in sunscreens, anti-acne and anti-ageing products based on proprietary technology.
This patented technology revolves around its sol-gel line, which enables room temperature entrapment of organic and bioactive molecules in silica glass beads.
This is said to enable an efficient delivery system, whereby ingredients can be safety isolated and controlled - a valuable characteristics for the many increasingly functional cosmetic products that are now cramming retail shelves.
DSM says that as well as the investment in Sol-Gel Technologies, which has offices in the US, in addition to Israel base, it intends to explore possible joint development activities and other collaborations in other areas of personal care as well as the animal and human nutrition fields.
DSM has carved its name out in the pharma and nutra field, where it has established niches in food and beverage, dietary supplements as well as animal feed.
Its move into the personal care and cosmetic field has been more recent, but it is now establishing a reputation in this area for ingredients and building blocks used in UV absorbents, hairsprays, soaps, creams, shampoos.
Those ingredients include vitamins, carotenoids, emulsifiers, polyunsaturated acids, citrates and a range of other fine chemicals.
In February of this year DSM launched Parsol TX, a new microfine Titanium Dioxide UV filter, and the latest to be added to the company's Parsol UV filter line.
It addresses growing demands for high caliber filters as well as tackling the problem of formulation compatibility often experienced with complex active ingredients.